Williamsburg, IA to Waterloo, IA is 95.9 miles and takes about 1h 50m via Avenue of the Saints and I-380, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip entirely within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. Expect a mostly local road feel with some interstate driving mixed in. Given its relatively short distance and duration, this route is easily manageable as a single-day journey, allowing for a relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48 miles from Williamsburg, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
70.7 mi
1h 18m
I 80
18.1 mi
19m
I 380
2.9 mi
4m
State Highway 149
1.3 mi
2m
Washington Street
0.4 mi
1m
South Highland Street
0.4 mi
<1m
West Welsh Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
West 4th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 70.7 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Williamsburg, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on Court Street
142 ft·11 sec·Court Street
2
Turn left onto West Welsh Street
399 ft·13 sec·West Welsh Street
3
Turn left onto IA 149
0.4 mi·34 sec·South Highland Street
4
Continue on IA 149
1.3 mi·2 min·State Highway 149
5
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto I 80
18 mi·19 min·I 80
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
9
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
71 mi·1 hr 18 min·Avenue of the Saints
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
2.9 mi·4 min·I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
11
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Washington Street
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
12
Turn left onto West 4th Street
398 ft·13 sec·West 4th Street
13
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of under two hours, this route offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart anytime, but leaving in the morning allows for plenty of daylight to reach your destination. The fuel cost is estimated at $15, so plan accordingly. Since there are no designated stops recommended, feel free to pull over if you need a break, but keep in mind the "turn-heavy" nature of the drive means you'll be making more frequent adjustments. A practical tip: keep your navigation system active, as the mix of local roads and highways can make it easy to miss a turn if you're not paying attention.
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 48 miles from Williamsburg, IA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.7 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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48 miles or 55m 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 29m
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 Williamsburg, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Williamsburg, IA
This is one driving day of about 95.9 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Williamsburg, 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 70.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 92.5 — 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|West Welsh Street
Turn left onto West Welsh Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 149 / South Highland Street
Turn left onto IA 149 / South Highland Street
Navigation decision point
5
20.4 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
6
20.9 mi into trip|~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar...
6
92.5 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
$14.99 one way
$29.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.46
$32.92
premium
$4.89
$18.46
$36.91
diesel
$5.61
$21.17
$42.35
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: 33.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.8
0
$10.07
$4.60
Efficient EV
24
0
$8.39
$3.84
EV Truck/SUV
38.4
0
$13.43
$6.14
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Williamsburg, IA
Night
in Williamsburg on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Night
in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
4 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 50m 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 trip is characterized by its "turn-heavy local drive" profile, meaning you won't be on a single highway for the entire journey. While 23% of the drive is on highways like I-80 and I-380, much of it will be on more local roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 70.7 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, offering a good opportunity to settle in. Be prepared for frequent turns and changes in road type as you navigate from Williamsburg to Waterloo.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.7 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Welsh Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 95.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 (West Welsh Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IA 149 / South Highland Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 95.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (23%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.7 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 (West Welsh Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IA 149 / South Highland Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waterloo, IA before heading back.
