Origin
Tripoli, IA
Late night in Tripoli on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tripoli, IA to Waterloo, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
26.3 mi
42 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 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tripoli, IA
Agung Pandit Wiguna
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Tripoli, IA to Waterloo, IA is 26.3 miles and takes about 35m via Larrabee Avenue, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to the same region. It's a straightforward local road trip, ideal for a quick hop between nearby towns. You won't find yourself on any major highways, making this a direct, uncomplicated journey for those looking to cover a small distance efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Larrabee Avenue | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| Logan Avenue | 8.7 mi | 11m |
| 170th Street | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| East Mullan Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| 7th Avenue Southwest | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Larrabee Avenue
— 11.3 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tripoli, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on IA 93
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto IA 93
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
7th Avenue Southwest
3
Continue on IA 93
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
170th Street
4
Turn left onto US 63
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Larrabee Avenue
5
Continue on US 63
8.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Logan Avenue
6
Continue on US 63
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Mullan Avenue
7
Turn straight
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
8
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
9
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
10
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 26.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 93 / 7th Avenue Southwest
Turn right onto IA 93 / 7th Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
3
4.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 63 / Larrabee Avenue
Turn left onto US 63 / Larrabee Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
26.3 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.11 one way
$8.22 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.51 | $9.03 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.06 | $10.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.81 | $11.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.76 | $1.26 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.30 | $1.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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 Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
35m 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?
This drive is characterized by frequent turns, offering a more engaged driving experience than a typical interstate cruise. With 0% highway share, expect to navigate local roads for the entire 26.3 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 11.3 miles on Larrabee Avenue. This profile suggests a route that winds through smaller communities or rural landscapes, requiring your attention to road changes and navigation.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.3 mi on Larrabee Avenue.
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 0.4 miles in near IA 93 / 7th Avenue Southwest.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Tripoli, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 35m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (IA 93 / 7th Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (US 63 / Larrabee Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 26.3 miles (West 4th Street): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Waterloo, IA
Full guide →Waterloo is a city of 68,000 people (2020) in of Black Hawk County in Northeast Iowa. It adjoins the city of Cedar Falls. It is home to an important John Deere tractor factory, which offers tours.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 26.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.3 miles on Larrabee Avenue. 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 0.4 miles (IA 93 / 7th Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (US 63 / Larrabee Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 26.3 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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