Origin
Traer, IA
Late night in Traer on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Traer, 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
34m
Distance
23.7 mi
38 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Traer, IA
Tara Winstead
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Traer and Waterloo, Iowa, this straightforward 23.7-mile trip is an ideal candidate for a quick day excursion. The drive takes approximately 28 minutes to complete, making it a very manageable commute within the Midwest region. You can expect to spend about $4 on fuel for the entire journey, which is quite economical for a one-day commitment. Because the trip is so short, there is no need to plan for overnight stays or complex logistics. It is a practical, no-fuss route that gets you from point A to point B efficiently. Whether you are heading out for business or a brief visit, this direct path offers a simple way to navigate between these two Iowa towns.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sergeant Road | 9.3 mi | 13m |
| South Hudson Road | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| County Road D65 | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Q Avenue | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| South Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| US 63 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| University Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Sergeant Road
— 9.3 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Traer, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on US 63
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Continue on US 63
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road D65
3
Continue on US 63
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Q Avenue
4
Continue on US 63
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
South Hudson Road
5
Continue on US 63
9.3 mi
·
13 min
·
Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft
·
9 sec
·
University Avenue
7
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 63
8
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
9
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
10
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
11
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 22.9 and 23.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
22.9 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
US 63 / University Avenue
Turn right onto US 63 / University Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
23.3 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
23.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.71 one way
$7.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.07 | $8.14 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.56 | $9.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.23 | $10.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
34m 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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 23.7-mile stretch. You will navigate via County Road D65, Q Avenue, and South Hudson Road, which keeps the experience feeling more like a local transit than a high-speed highway commute. Since the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a slower pace that requires your full attention at intersections and turns. The route maintains a consistent character throughout its short duration, lacking any long, uninterrupted stretches of open road. Staying alert is key, as the shifting local roads demand consistent navigation rather than set-it-and-forget-it cruise control.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.3 mi on Sergeant Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 22.9 miles in near US 63 / University Avenue.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Traer, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 34m with 1% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 22.9 miles (US 63 / University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 23.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 23.7 miles (West 4th Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 23.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.3 miles on Sergeant Road. 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: at 22.9 miles (US 63 / University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 23.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 23.7 miles (West 4th Street): 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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