Trip from Waterloo, IA to Rock Rapids, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 26m

Distance

284.9 mi

458 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

23 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

5h 13m ★

6 AM

5h 27m

8 AM

5h 54m

10 AM

5h 36m

12 PM

5h 33m

3 PM

5h 37m

5 PM

5h 52m

8 PM

5h 19m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

Waterloo, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Rock Rapids, IA

Horst Joachims

Trip Overview

The drive from Waterloo, IA to Rock Rapids, IA covers 284.9 miles and takes about 5h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, I 90, State Highway 9 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 121.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.54 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

142.4 miles from Waterloo, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Avenue of the Saints	121.4 mi	2h 16m
I 90	114.6 mi	2h 2m
State Highway 9	19.8 mi	27m
US 59	11.4 mi	14m
US 218	7 mi	9m
IA 60	4.8 mi	5m
Ia 9th Street	2.3 mi	3m
I 90 Business	0.9 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 121.4 mi, about 2h 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Rock Rapids, IA.

Start on West 4th Street

76 ft · 6 sec · West 4th Street

Turn right onto Washington Street

0.4 mi · 44 sec · Washington Street

Continue on US 218

6.3 mi · 7 min · US 218

Take the exit onto US 218

0.2 mi · 31 sec · US 218

Keep slight right at fork onto US 218

0.5 mi · 58 sec · US 218

Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly

Merge onto US 218; IA 27

121 mi · 2 hr 16 min · Avenue of the Saints

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Toward I 90 West: Sioux Falls Use the straight / right lanes.

Merge onto I 90

115 mi · 2 hr 2 min · I 90

Take the exit onto I 90 Business

0.4 mi · 51 sec · I 90 Business

Toward MN 60

Turn right onto I 90 Business; MN 60

0.3 mi · 29 sec · MN 60 W

Enter roundabout onto I 90 Business; MN 60

118 ft · 6 sec · I 90 Business; MN 60

Continue on I 90 Business; MN 60

0.5 mi · 53 sec · I 90 Business; MN 60

Use the straight / left lanes.

Enter roundabout onto US 59; MN 60

107 ft · 6 sec · US 59; MN 60

Continue on US 59; MN 60

0.7 mi · 1 min · US 59; MN 60

Enter roundabout onto US 59; MN 60

86 ft · 4 sec · US 59; MN 60

Continue on US 59; MN 60

5.5 mi · 6 min · US 59; MN 60

Continue on US 59; MN 60

5.1 mi · 5 min · US 59; MN 60

Continue on IA 60

4.8 mi · 5 min · IA 60

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Toward IA 9: Rock Rapids, Spirit Lake

Turn right onto IA 9

2.3 mi · 3 min · Ia 9th Street

Continue on IA 9

20 mi · 27 min · State Highway 9

Continue on IA 9

0.5 mi · 1 min · North 2nd Avenue East

Continue on IA 9

0.5 mi · 1 min · 1st Avenue

Turn left onto US 75

0.3 mi · 48 sec · South Union Street

Arrive at destination

US 75

Trip Plan

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 142.4 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 2h 41m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.4 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 63 miles or 1h 12m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 142.4 miles or 2h 41m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rock Rapids, 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 284.9 miles and 5h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 121.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city and the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mason City, IA

142 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

Mason City, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mason City, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 142.4 miles from Waterloo, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 121.4 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

2.7 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 81.4

Mason City, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 81.4

Mason City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 20.3

Shell Rock, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 261 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Washington Street

Turn right onto Washington Street

Navigation decision point

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

128.8 mi into trip | ~2h 26m in

Take the exit toward I 90 West: Sioux Falls

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 90 West: Sioux Falls

244.2 mi into trip | ~4h 31m in | I 90 Business; MN 60

Enter roundabout onto I 90 Business; MN 60

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

261 mi into trip | ~4h 52m in

Take the exit toward IA 9: Rock Rapids, Spirit Lake

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward IA 9: Rock Rapids, Spirit Lake

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.54 one way

$89.08 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 100 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$48.90	$97.81
premium	$4.89	$54.83	$109.65
diesel	$5.61	$62.90	$125.80

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$45

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 99.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

23 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Hy-Vee Waterloo - Tesla Supercharger

Waterloo, IA

Tesla

8 DCFC

Trails Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger

Albert Lea, MN

Tesla

8 DCFC

Kum & Go - Tesla Supercharger

Sherburn, MN

Tesla

8 DCFC

Hy-Vee Grocery Store - Tesla Supercharger

Worthington, MN

Tesla

8 DCFC

Ground Round Grill & Bar - Tesla Supercharger

Worthington, MN

Tesla

6 DCFC

Waterloo Hy-Vee

Waterloo, IA

CHARGELAB

4 DCFC

225 Commercial St

Waterloo, IA

CHARGELAB

4 DCFC

Roling Ford

Shell Rock, IA

Blink Network

4 DCFC

Tesla: 5 ChargePoint Network: 4 CHARGELAB: 3 EV Connect: 3 Blink Network: 2 Electrify America: 2 ZEFNET: 2 Non-Networked: 1 eVgo Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	85.5	1	$29.91	$13.68
Efficient EV	71.2	0	$24.93	$11.40
EV Truck/SUV	114	1	$39.89	$18.23

Gas CO2

100 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Morning in Waterloo on Sunday

Local time

7:50 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rock Rapids, IA

Morning in Rock Rapids on Sunday

Local time

7:50 AM

CDT

Current temp

48°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

20 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

5h 26m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

284.9 mi in 5h 26m — 56% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Avenue of the Saints.

56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 121.4 mi on Avenue of the Saints.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Washington Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 284.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 6.9 miles (US 218): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Waterloo, IA to Rock Rapids, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Spirit Lake along the way.

Spirit Lake

261 mi in | ~4h 52m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 26m. Total distance: 284.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 121.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rock Rapids, IA before the return drive.

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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Rock Rapids, IA to Waterloo, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

284.7 mi 5h 26m

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Trip from Waterloo, IA to Rock Rapids, IA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Shell Recharge Charging Station

EV Connect Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Waterloo, IA

Rock Rapids, IA

Same local time

20 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 26m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Rock Rapids, IA

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