Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
50.5 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Hiawatha, IA
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a quick trip from Waterloo to Hiawatha, you are looking at a straightforward 50.5-mile journey that typically takes about 57 minutes to complete. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the modest distance makes an overnight stay unnecessary. You can expect to spend roughly $8 on fuel, making it a very budget-friendly transit across the Iowa Midwest. Navigation is simple, relying primarily on the Avenue of the Saints, I-380, and Washington Street to get you to your destination. Because the trip is so short, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to head out whenever it suits your plans.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 40.7 mi | 43m |
| I 380 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| Washington Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Blairs Ferry Road Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 9th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Heefner Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Hiawatha, IA.
Start on West 4th Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
Turn left onto Heefner Street
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.3 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 50.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
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
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
Take the exit toward IA 100
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$7.90 one way
$15.79 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.67 | $17.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.72 | $19.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.15 | $22.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 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 | $5.30 | $2.42 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.42 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.07 | $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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Waterloo on Tuesday
Local time
3:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Hiawatha on Tuesday
Local time
3:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
59°F
Jesup, IA
25 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive features a unique personality, blending fast highway travel with a more technical, turn-heavy local finish. You will spend about 13% of your time on the highway, with the bulk of your cruising happening during the 40.7-mile stretch along the Avenue of the Saints. Once you transition off the main highway, the road demands more attention as the profile shifts into a turn-heavy local drive. Expect a change in pace as you navigate these final sections, moving from the steady rhythm of the interstate to the more frequent steering adjustments required on local roads. It is a drive that keeps you engaged, balancing long, open segments with more active maneuvering.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Washington Street.
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 50.5 miles you will encounter 7 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waterloo, IA and Hiawatha, IA, road signs point toward Dubuque and Cedar Falls.
Dubuque
Cedar Falls
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 50.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (13%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Waterloo, IA or browse trips ending in Hiawatha, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
