Waterloo to Tipton is 95.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 55 minutes via Avenue of the Saints, US 30, and State Highway 38, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Midwest, traveling from one Iowa locale to another. It's a straightforward, single-day journey that offers a practical way to cover ground without a significant time commitment. Expect a mixed driving experience that's generally easy to navigate, making it a good option for a relaxed travel day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.6 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
48.5 mi
53m
US 30
28.1 mi
35m
State Highway 38
7.4 mi
10m
I 380
6.5 mi
7m
Washington Street
2.7 mi
4m
Cedar Street
0.8 mi
2m
West 4th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East 5th Street
<0.1 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 Tipton, 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
28 mi·35 min·US 30; US 151
9
Turn right onto IA 38
7.4 mi·10 min·State Highway 38
10
Continue on IA 38
0.8 mi·2 min·Cedar Street
11
Turn left onto East 5th Street
50 ft·3 sec·East 5th Street
12
Turn right
118 ft·8 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 1 hour and 55-minute duration, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Waterloo in the morning allows you to reach Tipton with plenty of daylight remaining. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan for a brief pause if needed, perhaps around the halfway mark, though the longest stretch is less than an hour. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated cost is around $15, but it's always wise to top off before you depart or if you see a station in a larger town along US 30, as services can be spaced out on state highways.
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 47.6 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 54m 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.6 miles or 54m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tipton, 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 95.2 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 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 10
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
$14.88 one way
$29.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.34
$32.68
premium
$4.89
$18.32
$36.64
diesel
$5.61
$21.02
$42.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.6
0
$10.00
$4.57
Efficient EV
23.8
0
$8.33
$3.81
EV Truck/SUV
38.1
0
$13.33
$6.09
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Waterloo, IA
Late night
in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tipton, IA
Late night
in Tipton on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
3 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 55m 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?
This route offers a varied driving experience, with 44% of it being highway driving. You'll encounter stretches of the Avenue of the Saints, which can feel like a more scenic byway, interspersed with sections of US 30 and State Highway 38. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 48.5 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, giving you a good run on this particular road. The overall profile is a mixed drive, meaning you'll transition between different types of roads, so stay alert for changes in speed limits and road conditions as you travel.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 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
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 95.2 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 95.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 Tipton, 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 Tipton, IA before heading back.
