Wellman, IA to Waterloo, IA is 102.7 miles and takes about 2h 4m via Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across the Midwest, staying within Iowa for its entirety. It's a fairly direct drive that won't eat up your whole day, making it a solid choice for a single-day excursion. You'll encounter a mix of road types, so be prepared for some navigating rather than just cruising an interstate. Consider this drive if you're looking for a straightforward journey between two points in Iowa without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.3 miles from Wellman, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
76.5 mi
1h 25m
Highway 1 Southwest
13.3 mi
18m
State Highway 22
6.2 mi
9m
I 380
2.9 mi
4m
State Highway 1
1.1 mi
1m
1st Street
0.6 mi
1m
6th Street Northeast
0.5 mi
<1m
Washington Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 76.5 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wellman, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on this road
135 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 2nd Street
165 ft·8 sec·2nd Street
3
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
0.3 mi·29 sec·9th Avenue
4
Turn right onto IA 22
0.5 mi·45 sec·6th Street Northeast
5
Continue on IA 22
6.2 mi·9 min·State Highway 22
6
Continue on IA 22
390 ft·6 sec·East Avenue
7
Turn left onto IA 1
0.6 mi·1 min·1st Street
8
Continue on IA 1
1.1 mi·1 min·State Highway 1
9
Continue on IA 1
13 mi·18 min·Highway 1 Southwest
10
Continue on IA 1
0.2 mi·19 sec·Highway 1 West
11
Turn left
0.3 mi·41 sec
12
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
76 mi·1 hr 25 min·Avenue of the Saints
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
2.9 mi·4 min·I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
14
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Washington Street
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
15
Turn left onto West 4th Street
398 ft·13 sec·West 4th Street
16
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 4 minutes, this is an easy same-day trip. You could depart in the morning and be in Waterloo by lunchtime, or leave after lunch and arrive in the early evening. There are no specific recommended stops noted, so you can be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is low at $16, it's always wise to fuel up before leaving Wellman, especially since the longest stretch without a town is over 76 miles. Plan to be engaged with the driving, as the turn-heavy nature means you'll need to stay alert.
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 51.3 miles from Wellman, IA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.5 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 23 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.3 miles or 1h 4m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterloo, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wellman, 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 Wellman, IA
This is one driving day of about 102.7 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Wellman, 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 76.5 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 99.2 — 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|2nd Street
Turn right onto 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|9th Avenue
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 22 / 6th Street Northeast
Turn right onto IA 22 / 6th Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
3
22.4 mi into trip|~32m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
6
99.2 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.06 one way
$32.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.63
$35.26
premium
$4.89
$19.76
$39.53
diesel
$5.61
$22.67
$45.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.8
0
$10.78
$4.93
Efficient EV
25.7
0
$8.99
$4.11
EV Truck/SUV
41.1
0
$14.38
$6.57
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 18, 2026
Origin
Wellman, IA
Late night
in Wellman on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Sunny
NW 15 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:33AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Late night
in Waterloo on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
7 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
2h 4m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 drive is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with only 23% of the route on highways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on State Highway 22 and Avenue of the Saints, experiencing more local road conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 76.5 miles along the Avenue of the Saints, so while it's not all stop-and-go, much of this route requires your attention. Expect a driving experience that involves more frequent turns and potentially varying speed limits as you navigate through towns and rural areas.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.5 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 2nd Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Wellman, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 2h 4m with 23% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (9th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IA 22 / 6th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point.
Waterloo is a city of 68,000 people (2020) in of Black Hawk County in Northeast Iowa. It adjoins the city of Cedar Falls. It is home to an important John Deere tractor factory, which offers tours.
The longest stretch is about 76.5 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (9th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IA 22 / 6th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waterloo, IA before heading back.
