This straightforward 148.1-mile drive from Winterset, IA, to Waterloo, IA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 36 minutes. With a projected fuel cost of around $22, it's an economical option for exploring more of the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes local roads with a "turn-heavy" profile, meaning you’ll navigate through towns and intersections rather than long stretches of highway. This journey is best suited for those who prefer a more engaged driving experience over a quick interstate dash. Plan for one stop to break up the drive and stretch your legs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.1 miles from Winterset, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi
41m
I 80
31 mi
35m
US 20
18 mi
20m
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi
21m
US 169
11.2 mi
15m
240th Street
6.3 mi
9m
Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
8m
N Avenue
4.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Northeast Hubbell Road
— 35.2 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winterset, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on West Grade Street
124 ft·10 sec·West Grade Street
2
Turn left onto South John Wayne Drive
3.5 mi·6 min·South John Wayne Drive
3
Continue on US 169
11 mi·15 min·US 169
4
Take the ramp onto US 6
0.4 mi·49 sec·US 6
5
Merge onto I 80
12 mi·13 min·I 80
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi·5 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi·1 min·US 65
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
10
Continue on US 65; IA 330
35 mi·41 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
11
Turn left onto IA 330
5.9 mi·8 min·Marsh Avenue
12
Continue on IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·South Main Street
13
Continue on IA 330
4.3 mi·5 min·160th Street
14
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi·21 min·Sanford Avenue
15
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi·9 min·240th Street
16
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·M Avenue
17
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road T37
18
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·210th Street
19
Turn left onto IA 14
4.4 mi·6 min·N Avenue
20
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
21
Merge onto US 20
18 mi·20 min·US 20
22
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
23
Turn slight right
120 ft·6 sec
24
Turn straight onto US 63
3.8 mi·5 min·Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft·9 sec·University Avenue
26
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi·45 sec·US 63
27
Turn right
0.1 mi·10 sec
28
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Washington Street
29
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft·2 sec·West 4th Street
30
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hours and 36-minute duration and the "turn-heavy" nature of this 148.1-mile route, consider departing in the late morning to allow for a relaxed start from Winterset. The $22 fuel cost is quite manageable, so you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to pause. Pay attention to local speed limits and traffic signals, especially as you pass through various communities on your way to Waterloo. This route is ideal for a single-day excursion, offering plenty of opportunities to observe Iowa's landscape.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.1 miles from Winterset, IA, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.2 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 33 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.1 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 36m
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 Winterset, 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 Winterset, IA
This is one driving day of about 148.1 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Winterset, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Northeast Hubbell Road for about 35.2 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.2 and 148.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
27.2 mi into trip|~36m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
41.6 mi into trip|~53m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
46.1 mi into trip|~58m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
5
119.2 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|210th Street
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
148.1 mi into trip|~3h 11m in|West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.15 one way
$46.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.42
$50.84
premium
$4.89
$28.50
$57.00
diesel
$5.61
$32.70
$65.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.4
0
$15.55
$7.11
Efficient EV
37
0
$12.96
$5.92
EV Truck/SUV
59.2
0
$20.73
$9.48
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 16, 2026
Origin
Winterset, IA
Night
in Winterset on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Night
in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Colfax, IA
74 mi in
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
5 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
3h 11m 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" for this 148.1-mile journey, with 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating through various towns and intersections for the entire 2 hours and 36 minutes. The route is characterized by frequent changes in direction rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. While there's no longest uninterrupted stretch noted, this profile suggests a dynamic driving experience where you'll be actively engaged with the road and surroundings. You'll likely experience a pace dictated by local traffic and speed limits as you make your way across Iowa.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.2 mi on Northeast Hubbell Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.2 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 148.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Winterset, IA and Waterloo, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City and Bondurant.
Minneapolis
27.2 mi in|~36m|via I 80
Kansas City
27.2 mi in|~36m|via I 80
Bondurant
46.1 mi in|~58m|via US 65
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 148.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.2 miles on Northeast Hubbell Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Waterloo, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Waterloo, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
