Traveling from Stuart to Waterloo covers 151.1 miles across the heart of Iowa, typically taking about 3 hours and 8 minutes behind the wheel. Because of the manageable duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a one-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You will navigate a variety of corridors including I-80, Northeast Hubbell Road, and US 20 to complete the journey. With fuel costs estimated at around $23, it is an affordable trek for a quick getaway or a business trip. Expect a straightforward drive through the Midwest that balances efficiency with the practical realities of Iowa transit. Whether you are heading out for the day or connecting between these two regions, this route offers a reliable and efficient path.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.6 miles from Stuart, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
48 mi
53m
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi
41m
US 20
18 mi
20m
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi
21m
240th Street
6.3 mi
9m
Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
8m
N Avenue
4.4 mi
6m
160th Street
4.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 48 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stuart, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on CR P28
0.8 mi·1 min·South Division Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
3
Merge onto I 80; US 6
29 mi·31 min·I 80; US 6
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi·5 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
6
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi·1 min·US 65
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
8
Continue on US 65; IA 330
35 mi·41 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
9
Turn left onto IA 330
5.9 mi·8 min·Marsh Avenue
10
Continue on IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·South Main Street
11
Continue on IA 330
4.3 mi·5 min·160th Street
12
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi·21 min·Sanford Avenue
13
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi·9 min·240th Street
14
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·M Avenue
15
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road T37
16
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·210th Street
17
Turn left onto IA 14
4.4 mi·6 min·N Avenue
18
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
19
Merge onto US 20
18 mi·20 min·US 20
20
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
21
Turn slight right
120 ft·6 sec
22
Turn straight onto US 63
3.8 mi·5 min·Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft·9 sec·University Avenue
24
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi·45 sec·US 63
25
Turn right
0.1 mi·10 sec
26
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Washington Street
27
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft·2 sec·West 4th Street
28
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. I recommend planning for at least one stop to break up the 3-hour drive, which helps keep you alert as the scenery and road types shift. Keep your fuel budget of $23 in mind when planning your departure, and ensure your tank is topped off before hitting the longer interstate stretches. Given that the longest segment is 48 miles, use that time to settle into a comfortable cruising speed before the route transitions toward Northeast Hubbell Road. Ultimately, the simplicity of this 151.1-mile journey makes it an easy trip to manage if you pace yourself properly.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.6 miles from Stuart, IA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48 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 33 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.6 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 33m
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 Stuart, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Stuart, IA
This is one driving day of about 151.1 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Stuart, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 48 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 30.2 and 151.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
30.2 mi into trip|~33m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
44.6 mi into trip|~50m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
49.1 mi into trip|~55m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
5
122.2 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|210th Street
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
151.1 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.62 one way
$47.25 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.94
$51.87
premium
$4.89
$29.08
$58.16
diesel
$5.61
$33.36
$66.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.3
0
$15.87
$7.25
Efficient EV
37.8
0
$13.22
$6.04
EV Truck/SUV
60.4
0
$21.15
$9.67
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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
Stuart, IA
Night
in Stuart on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Night
in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Colfax, IA
76 mi in
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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 8m 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?
This trip features a mixed drive profile, blending high-speed interstate travel with more localized road networks. You will spend 44% of your time on highways, providing a balanced experience that keeps you moving while transitioning between different types of infrastructure. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 48 miles along I-80 before the route shifts character. As you move away from the interstate and onto roads like US 20, you will notice a change in pace that requires more active attention than a monotonous highway grind. It is a functional drive that transitions smoothly, ensuring you aren't stuck on a single type of road for the entire three-hour duration.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.2 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 151.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 30.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Between Stuart, IA and Waterloo, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City and Bondurant.
Minneapolis
30.2 mi in|~33m|via I 80
Kansas City
30.2 mi in|~33m|via I 80
Bondurant
49.1 mi in|~55m|via US 65
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 151.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Waterloo, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 30.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Waterloo, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
