Origin
Waterloo, IA
Late night in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, IA to Traer, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
23.5 mi
38 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Traer, IA
Tara Winstead
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick excursion through the heart of the Midwest, the 23.5-mile journey from Waterloo to Traer is an ideal candidate. Lasting approximately 34 minutes, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You will navigate primarily via local streets like Washington, West 5th, and West 4th rather than major interstates. With a fuel budget of just $4, it is an incredibly affordable way to transition between these Iowa communities. Whether you are running local errands or just exploring the region, this straightforward route offers a simple, no-fuss connection.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sergeant Road | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| South Hudson Road | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| County Road D65 | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Q Avenue | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| West 4th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| West Ridgeway Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West 5th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Sergeant Road
— 6.5 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Traer, 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
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 63
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
South Hudson Road
8
Continue on US 63
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Q Avenue
9
Continue on US 63
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road D65
10
Continue on US 63
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Main Street
11
Arrive at destination
US 63
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 3.3 — 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
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 5th Street
Turn right onto West 5th Street
Navigation decision point
4
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 63 / Sergeant Road
Turn left onto US 63 / Sergeant Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.67 one way
$7.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.03 | $8.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.52 | $9.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.19 | $10.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.47 | $1.13 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.06 | $0.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.29 | $1.50 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Traer, IA
Late night in Traer on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
34m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy, local experience rather than a high-speed interstate sprint. Since this route utilizes 0% highway driving, you should be prepared for more frequent adjustments and slower speeds as you navigate through the local road network. The drive maintains a consistent, intimate feel throughout the 23.5-mile trek, lacking any long, uninterrupted highway stretches. Because you are navigating city streets, the character of the road remains focused and technical rather than monotonous. It is a drive that requires your full attention on the turns, providing a hands-on experience behind the wheel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.5 mi on Sergeant Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Washington Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Waterloo, IA to Traer, IA is easy. At 34m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (US 63 / Sergeant Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 23.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.5 miles on Sergeant Road. 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 0.1 miles (West 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (US 63 / Sergeant Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Traer, 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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