Origin
Waterloo, IA
Late night in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, IA to Atkins, 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 9m
Distance
50.4 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Atkins, IA
Tara Winstead
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the Iowa heartland, the 50.4-mile trip from Waterloo to Atkins is a straightforward commute. Clocking in at approximately 1 hour and 9 minutes, this drive is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, requiring no overnight stays. You will navigate via Washington Street, I-380 south, and the Avenue of the Saints to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of about $8, the trip is an economical option for travelers moving between these two Midwest locations. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that gets you from point A to point B efficiently without unnecessary complexity.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 23.1 mi | 24m |
| 32nd Avenue | 15.3 mi | 27m |
| I 380 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| Washington Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Park Ridge Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Smith Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Union Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 23.1 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Atkins, 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
23 mi
·
24 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward Urbana
6
Turn right onto 55th Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
55th Street
7
Turn left onto CR W26
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Union Avenue
8
Continue on CR W26
8.7 mi
·
15 min
·
32nd Avenue
9
Continue on CR W26
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Northwest Canton Street
10
Turn left onto CR W26
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Main Street
11
Turn right onto CR W26
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Pearl Street
12
Keep slight left at fork onto CR W26
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Southwest Smith Street
13
Continue on CR W26
6.6 mi
·
11 min
·
32nd Avenue
14
Turn left onto CR E44
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Ridge Road
15
Turn left onto Main Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Main Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.2 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 42.1 — 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
4
32.3 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward Urbana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Urbana
5
42.1 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
CR W26 / East Main Street
Turn left onto CR W26 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.88 one way
$15.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.65 | $17.30 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.70 | $19.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.13 | $22.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.41 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.06 | $3.23 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Atkins, IA
Late night in Atkins on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Urbana, IA
25 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
19 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 9m 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 that demands your attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will utilize I-380 south and the Avenue of the Saints, the route maintains a 0% highway share, emphasizing the local nature of the journey. Because of this configuration, you will find yourself navigating frequent turns rather than settling into long, uninterrupted stretches of road. The transition from Waterloo to Atkins keeps you engaged behind the wheel, requiring you to stay alert as you maneuver through the local landscape. It is a functional drive that trades high-speed highway efficiency for a more hands-on, localized experience.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.1 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Washington Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.4 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.
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 Atkins, IA, road signs point toward Dubuque, Cedar Falls and Urbana.
Dubuque
2.7 mi in
|
~4m
|
via I 380
Cedar Falls
2.7 mi in
|
~4m
|
via I 380
Urbana
32.3 mi in
|
~37m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 50.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.1 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Atkins, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 Atkins, 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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