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Trip from State Center, IA to Waterloo, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 41m

Distance

75.1 mi

121 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 34m ★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown State Center, IA, IA

State Center, IA

Brett Sayles

city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

Waterloo, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 75.1-mile journey from State Center, Iowa, to Waterloo, Iowa, is a straightforward trip that takes about 1 hour and 41 minutes to complete. Primarily utilizing US 20 and Sanford Avenue, this drive falls within the Midwest and stays within Iowa, making it a familiar regional hop. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it's an economical option for a single day. The route's character is more of a turn-heavy local drive, suggesting you'll be navigating through towns and varied road types rather than a constant interstate cruise. Given its short duration and manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited as a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

37.6 miles from State Center, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 20 18 mi 20m
Sanford Avenue 15.9 mi 21m
Lincoln Highway 7.1 mi 8m
240th Street 6.3 mi 9m
Marsh Avenue 5.9 mi 8m
N Avenue 4.4 mi 6m
160th Street 4.3 mi 5m
Sergeant Road 3.8 mi 5m
Longest stretch: US 20 — 18 mi, about 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between State Center, IA and Waterloo, IA.

1

Start on East Main Street

12 ft · 5 sec · East Main Street
2

Turn left onto 1st Avenue South

0.2 mi · 25 sec · 1st Avenue South
3

Turn right onto 4th Street Southwest

0.2 mi · 23 sec · 4th Street Southwest
4

Turn left onto 3rd Avenue Southwest

0.4 mi · 43 sec · 3rd Avenue Southwest
5

Turn left onto US 30

7.1 mi · 8 min · Lincoln Highway
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward IA 330: Albion, Melbourne
7

Turn left onto IA 330

1.8 mi · 2 min · IA 330
8

Turn left onto IA 330

5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue
9

Continue on IA 330

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
10

Continue on IA 330

4.3 mi · 5 min · 160th Street
11

Turn left onto IA 14

16 mi · 21 min · Sanford Avenue
12

Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175

6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street
13

Turn left onto M Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue
14

Continue on County Road T37

1.0 mi · 1 min · County Road T37
15

Turn sharp right onto 210th Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · 210th Street
16

Turn left onto IA 14

4.4 mi · 6 min · N Avenue
17

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
18

Merge onto US 20

18 mi · 20 min · US 20
19

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
20

Turn slight right

120 ft · 6 sec
21

Turn straight onto US 63

3.8 mi · 5 min · Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
22

Turn right onto US 63

388 ft · 9 sec · University Avenue
23

Turn straight onto US 63

0.3 mi · 45 sec · US 63
24

Turn right

0.1 mi · 10 sec
25

Continue on Washington Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Washington Street
26

Turn right onto West 4th Street

76 ft · 2 sec · West 4th Street
27

Arrive at destination

West 4th Street

Trip Plan

For this 1 hour and 41-minute drive, there's no need to split it; it's easily manageable in a single day. With a fuel cost around $12, you can plan your budget accordingly. Since there are no designated stops in the data, consider this a flexible trip where you can depart at your convenience. Keep an eye out for the frequent turns and changes in road type, especially as you transition off US 20 onto local roads like Sanford Avenue. Planning to leave mid-morning could help you avoid potential rush hour traffic within the towns you pass through.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.6 miles from State Center, IA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 17 miles or 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 37.6 miles or 51m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 25m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterloo, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving State Center, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from State Center, IA

This is one driving day of about 75.1 miles and 1h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from State Center, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 18 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Grundy Center, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Grundy Center, IA

38 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Albion, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Grundy Center, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.6 miles from State Center, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Tremont on Main Restaurants and Inn

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 10.7

Marshalltown, Iowa

+16417521234

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 75.1

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.2 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 75.1

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+31880109500

Visit website

Red E Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 21.5

Marshalltown, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Blink Charging Station

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 21.5

Marshalltown, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 75.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | 1st Avenue South

Turn left onto 1st Avenue South

Navigation decision point

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | 4th Street Southwest

Turn right onto 4th Street Southwest

Navigation decision point

5
7.8 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the exit toward IA 330: Albion, Melbourne

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward IA 330: Albion, Melbourne
5
46.2 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in | 210th Street

Turn sharp right onto 210th Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
75.1 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in | West 4th Street

Turn right onto West 4th Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.74 one way

$23.48 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $12.89 $25.78
premium $4.89 $14.45 $28.90
diesel $5.61 $16.58 $33.16

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.5 0 $7.89 $3.60
Efficient EV 18.8 0 $6.57 $3.00
EV Truck/SUV 30 0 $10.51 $4.81

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

State Center, IA

Late night in State Center on Sunday

Local time

2:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waterloo, IA

Late night in Waterloo on Sunday

Local time

2:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

19 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 41m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 75.1-mile stretch. Only about 27% of this route is on highways, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on local roads like Sanford Avenue and Lincoln Highway, interspersed with US 20. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18 miles on US 20, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before you're back to navigating through communities. This profile suggests a dynamic driving experience, with frequent changes in speed limits and road conditions as you transition between different types of thoroughfares.

Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18 mi on US 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 1st Avenue South.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 41m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (1st Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (4th Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from State Center, IA to Waterloo, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Melbourne along the way.

Melbourne

7.8 mi in | ~9m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 75.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (27%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 18 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (1st Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (4th Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waterloo, IA before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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