Connecting Waterloo to Iowa City, this 81.9-mile journey is a straightforward trek through the heart of the Midwest. You can expect a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 38 minutes, making this an ideal candidate for a quick one-day excursion. By utilizing the Avenue of the Saints, I-380, and I-80, you will navigate between these two Iowa hubs with ease. Budgeting about $12 for fuel should keep your tank covered for the entire trip. Since the drive is short, there is no need to plan for overnight stays, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.9 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi
1h 11m
I 380
6.5 mi
7m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
Washington Street
2.7 mi
4m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
Kimball Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
West 4th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 64.7 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Iowa City, 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
65 mi·1 hr 11 min·Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
6
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
7
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
9
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
10
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
11
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
12
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Because this route is manageable in under two hours, you have significant flexibility in your departure time to avoid potential traffic. Since there are no formal stops required, you can easily complete the entire 81.9-mile distance in one go without needing a mid-trip break. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Waterloo, as the $12 cost estimate assumes steady consumption. The most important tip for this specific drive is to stay alert during the transition between the high-speed highway segments and the turn-heavy local roads. Use this short travel time to your advantage by planning a full day of activities in Iowa City once you arrive.
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 40.9 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.7 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 18 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.9 miles or 47m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Iowa City, 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 81.9 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Waterloo, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 64.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 74.2 — 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
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
74 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward I 80
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80
5
74.2 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.80 one way
$25.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.06
$28.12
premium
$4.89
$15.76
$31.52
diesel
$5.61
$18.08
$36.16
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: 28.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.6
0
$8.60
$3.93
Efficient EV
20.5
0
$7.17
$3.28
EV Truck/SUV
32.8
0
$11.47
$5.24
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 13, 2026
Origin
Waterloo, IA
Night
in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
9:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 7 to 14 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 14 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Night
in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
9:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
SW 10 to 15 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 14 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 38m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mix of driving conditions that shifts as you move across the state. While the route is largely defined by a 13% highway share, you will spend the majority of your time navigating turn-heavy local roads that give the trip a more personal feel. The longest uninterrupted portion occurs on the Avenue of the Saints, which spans 64.7 miles of the journey. This transition from open highway stretches to more technical local segments keeps the drive engaging. Be prepared to adjust your speed as you move from the faster interstate sections into the winding local lanes.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.7 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Washington Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 81.9 miles you will encounter 10 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
942 ft667 ft
Total Climb
119 ft
Total Descent
306 ft
Highest Point
942 ft
~29.2 mi in
Elevation Range
275 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 81.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.7 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 Iowa City, 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 Iowa City, IA before heading back.
