Waterloo, IA to Lenox, IA is 209 miles and takes about 4 hours 30 minutes via I-35, US-34, and IA-330, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Iowa, offering a straightforward drive. You'll primarily be on highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. The route is best suited for travelers looking for a direct connection between these two points without extensive detours. It's a practical choice for getting from A to B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
104.7 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
40 mi
43m
US 34
38.3 mi
54m
IA 330
35.9 mi
42m
Avenue of the Saints
18.4 mi
21m
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi
21m
US 65
13 mi
15m
240th Street
6.3 mi
9m
Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 40 mi, about 43m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,832 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,262
Quietest
2 AM
~191 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Lenox, IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
76 ft·6 sec·West 4th Street
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
384 ft·10 sec·Washington Street
3
Turn right onto West 5th Street
0.3 mi·34 sec·West 5th Street
4
Continue on West 4th Street
2.4 mi·4 min·West 4th Street
5
Turn slight right onto West Ridgeway Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·West Ridgeway Avenue
6
Turn left onto US 63
0.8 mi·1 min·Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto US 20; IA 27
18 mi·21 min·Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
10
Turn left onto IA 14
4.5 mi·6 min·N Avenue
11
Turn right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·210th Street
12
Turn sharp left onto County Road T37
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road T37
13
Continue on M Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·M Avenue
14
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi·9 min·240th Street
15
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi·21 min·Sanford Avenue
16
Turn right onto IA 330
4.3 mi·5 min·160th Street
17
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·North Main Street
18
Continue on IA 330
5.9 mi·8 min·Marsh Avenue
19
Turn right onto IA 330
36 mi·42 min·IA 330
20
Take the exit onto US 65
13 mi·15 min·US 65
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 80; I 35
5.6 mi·6 min·I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
40 mi·43 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward US 34: Osceola, Creston
24
Turn left onto US 34
38 mi·54 min·US 34
25
Turn left onto IA 25
5.5 mi·8 min·Adams-Union Avenue
26
Continue on IA 25; CR J13
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 25
27
Turn right onto CR J13
4.2 mi·7 min·110th Street
28
Continue on CR J13
0.6 mi·1 min·East Van Buren Street
29
Turn left onto North Maple Street
0.3 mi·1 min·North Maple Street
30
Arrive at destination
North Maple Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4.5-hour duration, leaving Waterloo in the morning should allow you to reach Lenox with plenty of daylight to spare. The route has only one recommended stop, so plan your breaks accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point or when you transition off I-35. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 40-mile stretch on I-35, and aim to refuel before entering that segment if needed. Since it's a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time slightly based on traffic or weather.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 104.7 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40 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 46 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.7 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lenox, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waterloo, IA
This is one driving day of about 209.3 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Waterloo, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 40 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 119.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
6
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
22.8 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
7
100.8 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
6
119.4 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.91 one way
$61.82 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$34.12
$68.24
premium
$4.72
$38.86
$77.72
diesel
$4.80
$39.52
$79.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.8
0
$21.98
$10.05
Efficient EV
52.3
0
$18.31
$8.37
EV Truck/SUV
83.7
1
$29.30
$13.40
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Waterloo, IA
Morning
in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
6:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
NNE 2 to 8 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Destination
Lenox, IA
Morning
in Lenox on Sunday
Local time
6:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
NNE 3 to 7 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
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
5 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
4h 30m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 is mostly highway, with 64% of the 209 miles on high-speed roads. You'll encounter the longest stretch without exiting for about 40 miles on I-35. After that, expect a transition to surface roads as you navigate US-34 and IA-330. The highway portion means you'll likely see a steady stream of exits and a generally faster pace.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 34. You will hit about 20 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 209.3 miles you will encounter 20 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 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,294 ft854 ft
Total Climb
717 ft
Total Descent
276 ft
Highest Point
1,294 ft
~209.3 mi in
Elevation Range
441 ft
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 Lenox, IA, road signs point toward Grundy Center and Creston.
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.
Top landmarks
•Henry Weis House — house in Waterloo, Iowa, United States
•Rensselaer Russell House — house in Waterloo, Iowa, United States
•Waterloo Public Library-East Side Branch — historic Carnegie library in Iowa
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 209.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Lenox, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Lenox, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
