Wilton to Waterloo is 110.8 miles and takes about 2 hours 8 minutes via Avenue of the Saints and I-380, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on well-maintained highways, making it a practical choice for a quick transit between these two points. You'll find the journey is relatively short, allowing for a relaxed pace without feeling rushed. Consider this route if you need an efficient way to cover the ground between Wilton and Waterloo.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.4 miles from Wilton, 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
70.8 mi
1h 18m
I 80
30.9 mi
33m
I 380
2.9 mi
4m
Rose Avenue
2.7 mi
4m
West 5th Street
1.1 mi
1m
United States Highway 6
0.5 mi
<1m
Washington Street
0.4 mi
1m
West 4th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 70.8 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilton, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on Maurer Street
318 ft·19 sec·Maurer Street
2
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
1.1 mi·1 min·West 5th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 6
0.5 mi·43 sec·United States Highway 6
4
Continue on US 6
2.7 mi·4 min·Rose Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
6
Merge onto I 80
31 mi·33 min·I 80
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 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
For this 2-hour, 8-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility on when to depart. Given the relatively short distance and estimated fuel cost of $17, you won't need to worry about extensive refueling stops. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 70.8 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, so plan for a brief break around that point if needed. It's a single-day drive, so leaving in the morning or early afternoon will get you to Waterloo with ample time. Keep an eye on local traffic conditions, especially as you approach and transition between I-80 and I-380.
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 55.4 miles from Wilton, IA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.8 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 24 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.4 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 43m
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 Wilton, 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 Wilton, IA
This is one driving day of about 110.8 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Wilton, 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 70.8 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 0.1 and 107.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 6 Hist / West 5th Street
Turn left onto US 6 Hist / West 5th Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|US 6 / United States Highway 6
At end of road, turn right onto US 6 / United States Highway 6
Navigation decision point
5
35.6 mi into trip|~41m 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
36 mi into trip|~42m in
Keep slight right 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
107.4 mi into trip|~2h 2m 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
$17.32 one way
$34.64 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.02
$38.04
premium
$4.89
$21.32
$42.64
diesel
$5.61
$24.46
$48.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.2
0
$11.63
$5.32
Efficient EV
27.7
0
$9.69
$4.43
EV Truck/SUV
44.3
0
$15.51
$7.09
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Wilton, IA
Late night
in Wilton on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Late night
in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
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
18 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 8m 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 drive offers a mixed experience, with 31% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a significant portion on the Avenue of the Saints, covering a longest stretch of 70.8 miles on this road before transitioning to I-80 and then I-380. Expect a blend of comfortable highway cruising and potentially some more local road driving as you navigate through different segments. The character of the road changes as you progress, moving from the more continuous Avenue of the Saints to the faster pace of the interstates. It's not an entirely monotonous interstate experience, offering some variety in your driving.
31% 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: 70.8 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 6 Hist / West 5th 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 110.8 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 0.1 miles (US 6 Hist / West 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 6 / United States Highway 6): Navigation decision point; at 35.6 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 2h 8m. Total distance: 110.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.8 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: at 0.1 miles (US 6 Hist / West 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 6 / United States Highway 6): Navigation decision point; at 35.6 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.
