Origin
Strawberry Point, IA
Late night in Strawberry Point on Sunday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Strawberry Point, 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 14m
Distance
58.7 mi
94 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Strawberry Point, IA
Rashed Paykary
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Strawberry Point to Waterloo is 58.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 14 minutes via US 20, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the familiar Midwest region, specifically within Iowa. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on highways, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. If you're looking for a simple way to get from point A to point B without much fuss, this route fits the bill. Consider it for a short day trip or an easy commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 33.8 mi | 38m |
| Washburn Avenue | 12.3 mi | 16m |
| C Avenue | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| I 380 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 3 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| 40th Street | 2 mi | 2m |
| West Mission Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Washington Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 33.8 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Strawberry Point, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on IA 13
60 ft
·
4 sec
·
Elkader Street
2
Turn right onto IA 3
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Mission Street
3
Continue on IA 3
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 3
4
Continue on IA 3
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
40th Street
5
Enter roundabout onto IA 187
210 ft
·
3 sec
·
C Avenue
6
Continue on IA 187
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
C Avenue
7
Continue on IA 187
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Washburn Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
9
Merge onto US 20
34 mi
·
38 min
·
US 20
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
11
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
12
Turn left onto West 4th Street
398 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 4th Street
13
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.3 miles from Strawberry Point, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 55.2 — 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
|
IA 3 / West Mission Street
Turn right onto IA 3 / West Mission Street
Navigation decision point
4
5.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
IA 187 / C Avenue
Enter roundabout onto IA 187 / C Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
3
21.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
21.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
US 20
Merge onto US 20
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
55.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.18 one way
$18.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.08 | $20.15 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.30 | $22.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.96 | $25.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.16 | $2.82 |
| Efficient EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.14 | $2.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.22 | $3.76 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Late night in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 18 to 22 mph
53% chance
Live forecast
70°F
Independence, IA
29 mi in
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
31 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 14m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is largely highway-focused, with 68% of it on major roads like US 20. You'll experience stretches where you can maintain highway speeds for a considerable distance, including one segment of 33.8 miles entirely on US 20. While the primary roads are highways, you'll also navigate sections on Washburn Avenue and C Avenue, offering a slight change of pace. Expect a generally efficient and direct driving experience with minimal delays.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.8 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Washburn Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 3 / West Mission Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Strawberry Point, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 1h 14m with 68% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 3 / West Mission Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (IA 187 / C Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 21.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 58.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.8 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 (IA 3 / West Mission Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (IA 187 / C Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 21.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
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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