If you are looking to travel from Waterloo to Webster City, you are in for a 79.7-mile journey through the heart of the Midwest. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 36 minutes, making it a perfectly manageable day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $12 for fuel to complete the trip. Because you will be navigating local roads like Washington Street, West 5th Street, and West 4th Street, the pace is much slower than typical interstate travel. It is a straightforward connection across Iowa that works well for a quick excursion or a direct transit between these two cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.9 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
73.6 mi
1h 24m
West 4th Street
2.4 mi
4m
Superior Street
1.3 mi
2m
Sergeant Road
0.8 mi
1m
West Ridgeway Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
West 5th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Washington Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
2nd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 73.6 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Webster City, 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
0.8 mi·1 min·Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto US 20; IA 27
74 mi·1 hr 24 min·Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward IA 17 South
10
Turn right onto Superior Street
1.3 mi·2 min·Superior Street
11
Turn left onto CR D20
60 ft·1 sec·2nd Street
12
Arrive at destination
CR D20
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With no designated stops included in the 1 hour and 36-minute duration, you can easily pull over whenever you need a break without worrying about falling behind a tight itinerary. Given the stop-and-go nature of local roads, keep a close watch on your fuel levels before heading out to ensure you stay within your $12 budget. My best tip for this specific route is to stay alert for frequent turns, as the reliance on local streets like West 4th and West 5th requires you to pay closer attention to signage than you would on a standard highway route.
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 39.9 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.6 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.9 miles or 49m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Webster City, 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 79.7 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 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 73.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 78 — 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.
6
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
78 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward IA 17 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 17 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.46 one way
$24.92 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.68
$27.36
premium
$4.89
$15.34
$30.68
diesel
$5.61
$17.60
$35.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.9 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
23.9
0
$8.37
$3.83
Efficient EV
19.9
0
$6.97
$3.19
EV Truck/SUV
31.9
0
$11.16
$5.10
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Night
in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Webster City, IA
Night
in Webster City on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
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
1h 36m 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 that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features zero highway miles, meaning you will rely entirely on local streets to reach your destination. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the longest segment of the drive is 0 miles on Washington Street. The personality of this trip is defined by constant navigation through town streets rather than high-speed cruising. Be prepared for a hands-on driving experience where the focus is on local road maneuvers rather than open-road endurance.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.6 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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 Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Waterloo, IA to Webster City, IA is easy. At 1h 36m 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,181 ft854 ft
Total Climb
460 ft
Total Descent
275 ft
Highest Point
1,181 ft
~51.2 mi in
Elevation Range
327 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 79.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 73.6 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 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 Webster City, IA before heading back.
