Traveling from Waterloo to Solon covers 71.6 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes of driving time. This straightforward trek through the Iowa Midwest is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the journey, making this an economical choice for a quick getaway. You will navigate via Washington Street, I-380 south, and the Avenue of the Saints. Because the trip is relatively short, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to head out whenever it best suits your plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.8 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
48.5 mi
53m
Ely Road
7.5 mi
13m
I 380
6.5 mi
7m
Washington Street
2.7 mi
4m
Highway 382 Northeast
2.3 mi
3m
State Street
1.5 mi
2m
US 30
0.7 mi
<1m
West Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 48.5 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Solon, 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
48 mi·53 min·Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon
8
Merge onto US 30; US 151
0.7 mi·46 sec·US 30; US 151
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward CR W6E: Ely
10
Turn right onto C Street Southwest
0.1 mi·19 sec·C Street Southwest
11
Turn left onto Ely Road
3.5 mi·6 min·Ely Road
12
Continue on CR W6E
1.5 mi·2 min·State Street
13
Continue on CR W6E
4.1 mi·7 min·Ely Road
14
Enter roundabout onto CR F16
158 ft·3 sec·Highway 382 Northeast
15
Continue on CR F16
2.2 mi·3 min·Highway 382 Northeast
16
Continue on CR F16
0.4 mi·40 sec·West Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
CR F16
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 71.6-mile trip, you have the advantage of being able to depart at your leisure without the pressure of a rigid timeline. We recommend keeping an eye on your fuel gauge before you leave Waterloo, as the $11 estimated cost is based on a direct run without excessive idling. Because the route is heavy on turns and local connections, it is wise to keep your GPS active to navigate the transition points between the Avenue of the Saints and I-380 south smoothly. Given the short duration, you likely won't need scheduled stops, but having a beverage or snack ready before you pull away will keep you comfortable for the entire 90-minute duration.
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 35.8 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.5 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 16 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.8 miles or 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 1h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Solon, 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 71.6 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 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 48.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 58.5 — 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
6
57.9 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon
6
58.5 mi into trip|~1h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.19 one way
$22.39 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.29
$24.58
premium
$4.89
$13.78
$27.56
diesel
$5.61
$15.81
$31.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.5
0
$7.52
$3.44
Efficient EV
17.9
0
$6.26
$2.86
EV Truck/SUV
28.6
0
$10.02
$4.58
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Waterloo, IA
Late night
in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Solon, IA
Late night
in Solon on Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
18 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
1h 30m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will utilize portions of I-380 south and the Avenue of the Saints, the route maintains a personal feel as you transition through the local road network. The drive is characterized by frequent adjustments rather than long, uninterrupted highway stretches. You will find yourself navigating local transitions that require more focus than a typical high-speed freeway trek. Being prepared for a more active driving experience will make the 1.5-hour duration feel much more engaging as you transition between these key regional thoroughfares.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.5 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 11 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 71.6 miles you will encounter 11 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.
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 Solon, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Cr W6E: Ely along the way.
Cr W6E: Ely
59.4 mi in|~1h 9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 71.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.5 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 Solon, 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 Solon, IA before heading back.
