Origin
Waterloo, IA
Late night in Waterloo on Tuesday
Local time
5:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, IA to Anamosa, 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
1h 26m
Distance
69 mi
111 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Anamosa, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward Midwestern excursion, the drive from Waterloo to Anamosa covers 69 miles in approximately 1 hour and 26 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination with ease and head back whenever you are ready. You should budget about $10 for fuel to complete the journey, making it a very cost-effective outing. Since both cities are located within Iowa, you will remain in the heart of the Midwest throughout your travels. Because the drive is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you plan to extend your visit. It is an ideal choice for travelers who prefer a quick, manageable commute over a multi-day haul.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 36.2 mi | 38m |
| County Home Road | 16.6 mi | 22m |
| I 380 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| Fairview Road | 3 mi | 5m |
| County Road E34 | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Washington Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| West Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Elm Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 36.2 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Anamosa, IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
76 ft
·
6 sec
·
West 4th Street
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Washington Street
3
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 380
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
36 mi
·
38 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward CR E34: Toddville, Robins
6
Turn sharp left onto CR E34
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
County Home Road
7
Enter roundabout onto County Home Road
158 ft
·
3 sec
·
County Home Road
8
Continue on County Home Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
County Home Road
9
Enter roundabout onto CR E34
132 ft
·
2 sec
·
County Home Road
10
Continue on CR E34
12 mi
·
16 min
·
County Home Road
11
Continue on CR E34
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Fairview Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto CR E34
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road E34
13
Continue on CR E34
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Elm Street
14
Turn left onto Cemetery Road
41 ft
·
2 sec
·
Cemetery Road
15
Turn right onto CR E34
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Elm Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto CR E28
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
CR E28
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.5 miles from Waterloo, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 45.7 — 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
|
Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
6
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids,...
6
9.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
45.4 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward CR E34: Toddville, Robins
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CR E34: Toddville, Robins
5
45.7 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
CR E34 / County Home Road
Turn sharp left onto CR E34 / County Home Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.79 one way
$21.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.84 | $23.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.28 | $26.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.23 | $30.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.24 | $3.31 |
| Efficient EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.04 | $2.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.6 | 0 | $9.66 | $4.42 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Anamosa, IA
Late night in Anamosa on Tuesday
Local time
5:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
Center Point, IA
35 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
15 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
1h 26m 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 trip offers a distinct mix of fast-paced transit and technical maneuvering. You will spend roughly 9% of your time on highways, transitioning from the efficient Avenue of the Saints to a more turn-heavy local driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 36.2 miles along the Avenue of the Saints, which provides a brief period of steady cruising before you shift toward County Home Road and I-380. Expect the character of the road to change as you move away from the main corridors and navigate the tighter segments of the route. Overall, the drive feels like a transition from high-speed regional connections into the more localized road network of rural Iowa.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.2 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Washington Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
950 ft
802 ft
Total Climb
408 ft
Total Descent
428 ft
Highest Point
950 ft
~66.1 mi in
Elevation Range
148 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waterloo, IA and Anamosa, IA, road signs point toward Cr E34: Toddville and Robins.
Cr E34: Toddville
45.4 mi in
|
~51m
Robins
45.4 mi in
|
~51m
About the Cities
Starting 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 1h 26m. Total distance: 69 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (9%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.2 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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 (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Anamosa, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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