Origin
Waterloo, IA
Late night in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, IA to Nashua, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
40.1 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Nashua, IA
Andhika Indra Pratama
Trip Overview
Waterloo to Nashua is 40.1 miles and takes about 49m via Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, connecting two Midwest communities. The route is primarily surface roads, making it a straightforward drive that's ideal for a single day. With no designated stops, you have the flexibility to depart when you're ready and arrive without feeling rushed.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 31.6 mi | 36m |
| US 218 | 7 mi | 9m |
| Sample Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Washington Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 31.6 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Nashua, 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
32 mi
·
36 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
8
Turn right onto IA 346
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Sample Street
9
Turn right onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Main Street
10
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.1 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 38.9 — 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
3
7.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 218; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto US 218; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
38.9 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.27 one way
$12.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.88 | $13.77 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.72 | $15.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.85 | $17.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.51 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.57 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Nashua, IA
Late night in Nashua on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Waverly, IA
20 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
2 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
49m 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?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only about 17% on highways. You'll experience a long stretch of 31.6 miles on the Avenue of the Saints before transitioning to other roads. Expect a more rural cruising feel with fewer exits compared to a full interstate experience.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.6 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Washington Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 49m drive. You will face about 7 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 49m. Total distance: 40.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.6 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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 Nashua, 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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