This straightforward 85.5-mile drive from Story City, IA to Waterloo, IA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 41 minutes. Primarily utilizing US 20 and I-35, this route offers a highway-focused experience through the heart of the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $13, it's an economical option for a quick journey. You'll spend about 92% of your time on highways, making for efficient travel between these two Iowa communities. This route is ideal for those seeking a no-fuss drive with minimal time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.7 miles from Story City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
60.6 mi
1h 9m
I 35
17.3 mi
18m
Sergeant Road
3.8 mi
5m
Broad Street
1.3 mi
2m
US 63
0.3 mi
<1m
Washington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
115th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
University Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 60.6 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Story City, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on Pennsylvania Avenue
51 ft·7 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR E15
1.3 mi·2 min·Broad Street
3
Continue on CR E15
427 ft·15 sec·115th Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
5
Merge onto I 35
17 mi·18 min·I 35
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
7
Merge onto US 20
61 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 20
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
9
Turn slight right
120 ft·6 sec
10
Turn straight onto US 63
3.8 mi·5 min·Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft·9 sec·University Avenue
12
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi·45 sec·US 63
13
Turn right
0.1 mi·10 sec
14
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Washington Street
15
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft·2 sec·West 4th Street
16
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given its short 1 hour and 41-minute duration, this 85.5-mile trip offers plenty of flexibility for when you depart. Leaving early can help you avoid any potential midday traffic, though with such a short distance, it's unlikely to be a significant issue. You won't need to worry about splitting the drive, and you can easily complete it on a single tank of gas, especially with the estimated $13 fuel cost. Keep an eye on your GPS for the transition onto Sergeant Road as you near your destination in Waterloo; this is the primary non-highway segment you'll encounter.
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 42.7 miles from Story City, IA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.6 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 19 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.7 miles or 49m 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 24m
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 Story City, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Story City, IA
This is one driving day of about 85.5 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Story City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 60.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 85.4 — 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|CR E15 / Broad Street
Turn left onto CR E15 / Broad Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Navigation decision point
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
4
19.1 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East: Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
4
80.3 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward US 63: Sergeant Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
5
85.4 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.37 one way
$26.73 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.68
$29.35
premium
$4.89
$16.45
$32.91
diesel
$5.61
$18.88
$37.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.7
0
$8.98
$4.10
Efficient EV
21.4
0
$7.48
$3.42
EV Truck/SUV
34.2
0
$11.97
$5.47
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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
Story City, IA
Night
in Story City on Saturday
Local time
9:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Night
in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
9:50 PM
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-dominant experience on this route, with 92% of the journey on major roadways like US 20 and I-35. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 60.6 miles along US 20, offering a solid period of consistent driving. While predominantly highway, you'll also navigate segments of Sergeant Road. The overall character is one of steady progress, designed for covering ground efficiently rather than for leisurely sightseeing. It’s a practical drive that prioritizes getting you from point A to point B with minimal interruption.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.6 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR E15 / Broad Street.
Driving Effort4/10
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 10 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 (CR E15 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,188 ft854 ft
Total Climb
192 ft
Total Descent
345 ft
Highest Point
1,188 ft
~18.3 mi in
Elevation Range
334 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 85.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 60.6 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 (CR E15 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waterloo, IA before heading back.
