Waterloo to Belmond is 86.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 57 minutes via 210th Street and State Highway 3, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Iowa, making it a straightforward journey. The route offers a mixed drive, meaning you'll experience a blend of different road types. Given its manageable distance and duration, this is a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, allowing you to arrive with plenty of time to spare.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.1 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
210th Street
24 mi
32m
State Highway 3
21.6 mi
29m
Avenue of the Saints
15 mi
17m
US 218
7 mi
9m
US 69
6.9 mi
9m
Balsam Avenue
5.1 mi
6m
Central Avenue East
2.1 mi
4m
230th Street
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
210th Street
— 24 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Belmond, IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
76 ft·6 sec·West 4th Street
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·Washington Street
3
Continue on US 218
6.3 mi·7 min·US 218
4
Take the exit onto US 218
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 218
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218
0.5 mi·58 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
6
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
15 mi·17 min·Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
8
Turn left onto IA 3
1.8 mi·2 min·230th Street
9
Continue on IA 3
3.4 mi·4 min·State Highway 3
10
Continue on IA 3
8.8 mi·11 min·210th Street
11
Continue on IA 3; IA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 3
12
Continue on IA 3
7.4 mi·10 min·210th Street
13
Continue on IA 3
1.7 mi·2 min·South Street
14
Continue on IA 3
1.8 mi·2 min·210th Street
15
Continue on IA 3
8.2 mi·11 min·State Highway 3
16
Continue on IA 3
2.1 mi·4 min·Central Avenue East
17
Continue on IA 3
9.0 mi·12 min·State Highway 3
18
Continue on IA 3
5.1 mi·6 min·Balsam Avenue
19
Continue on IA 3
6.0 mi·8 min·210th Street
20
Turn right onto US 69
6.9 mi·9 min·US 69
21
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·East Main Street
22
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue Northeast
61 ft·2 sec·2nd Avenue Northeast
23
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue Northeast
Trip Plan
For this 86.2-mile journey, there's no need to rush, and you can easily complete it in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and take advantage of the relatively short 1 hour 57 minute drive time. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, keeping an eye on your gas gauge is prudent, especially during the 24-mile stretch on 210th Street where services might be less frequent. You'll likely find the flexibility of this shorter route allows for spontaneous stops if something catches your eye.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.1 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.1 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belmond, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waterloo, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waterloo, IA
This is one driving day of about 86.2 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Waterloo, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on 210th Street for about 24 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 86.2 — 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
3
6.7 mi into trip|~8m in|US 218
Take the exit onto US 218
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
6.9 mi into trip|~9m in|US 218
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218 toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
4
22.7 mi into trip|~28m in|IA 3 / 230th Street
Turn left onto IA 3 / 230th Street
Navigation decision point
5
86.2 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|2nd Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.48 one way
$26.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.80
$29.59
premium
$4.89
$16.59
$33.18
diesel
$5.61
$19.03
$38.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.9
0
$9.05
$4.14
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.54
$3.45
EV Truck/SUV
34.5
0
$12.07
$5.52
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Waterloo, IA
Night
in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Belmond, IA
Night
in Belmond on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 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 57m 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 drive features a 41% highway share, indicating a good balance between faster travel and more local roads. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 24 miles on 210th Street, which might feel like a more rural or less-traveled road. As you transition onto State Highway 3 and later Avenue of the Saints, expect the character of the drive to evolve. It’s not a relentless interstate cruise, but rather a varied experience that keeps things interesting behind the wheel.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24 mi on 210th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Washington Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 57m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 6.9 miles (US 218): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 86.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 24 miles on 210th Street. 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 6.7 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 6.9 miles (US 218): 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 Belmond, IA before heading back.
