How far is Earlham, IA from Waterloo, IA?

The driving distance from Earlham, IA to Waterloo, IA is about 141.2 miles (227.3 km), with a travel time of about 02h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 114.6 miles (184.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 55m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
141.26 mi
02h 27m
Flight
114.66 mi
184.53 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Earlham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
114.66 mi
Kilometers
184.53 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
141.26 mi
Kilometers
227.33 km
Drive Time
02h 27m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waterloo
Thu, Apr 23, 12:25 AM CDT
Return by in Earlham
Thu, Apr 23, 2:52 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Earlham
2026-04-22T21:57
Arrive Waterloo
Thu, Apr 23, 12:25 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:28 AM to 12:28 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:34 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Earlham
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Melbourne
IA

City in Iowa, United States of America

From Earlham
70.6 mi
01h 13m
To Waterloo
70.7 mi
01h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 18 mph S
Destination
80°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Earlham and Waterloo.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Earlham and Waterloo.

  1. 1

    Start on Northwest Locust Avenue

    73 m · 13 sec · Northwest Locust Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Northwest 2nd Street

    118 m · 22 sec · Northwest 2nd Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Chestnut Avenue

    2281 ft · 1 min · North Chestnut Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on County Road P57

    1570 ft · 31 sec · County Road P57

  5. 5

    Continue on I Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · I Avenue

  6. 6

    Take the ramp right toward I-80 east: Des Moines

    1947 ft · 48 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    18.2 mi · 20 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City

    14.4 mi · 17 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    4.5 mi · 5 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant

    2428 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

  12. 12

    Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road

    35.2 mi · 42 min · Northeast Hubbell Road

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Marsh Avenue

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

  14. 14

    Continue on South Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

  15. 15

    Continue on 160th Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 160th Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

    15.9 mi · 22 min · Sanford Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto 240th Street

    6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto M Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on County Road T37

    1 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

  20. 20

    Turn sharp right onto 210th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 210th Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto N Avenue

    4.4 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

  22. 22

    Take the ramp right toward US 20 East: Waterloo

    2388 ft · 58 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    18 mi · 21 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward US 63: Sergeant Road

    3054 ft · 1 min

  25. 25

    Turn slight right

    37 m · 6 sec

  26. 26

    Turn straight onto Sergeant Road

    3.8 mi · 6 min · Sergeant Road

  27. 27

    Turn right onto University Avenue

    118 m · 9 sec · University Avenue

  28. 28

    Turn straight

    1708 ft · 45 sec

  29. 29

    Turn right

    617 ft · 10 sec

  30. 30

    Continue on Washington Street

    1175 ft · 26 sec · Washington Street

  31. 31

    Turn right onto West 4th Street

    23 m · 2 sec · West 4th Street

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 4th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Earlham and Waterloo.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
32 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi · 25%
I 35
18.9 mi · 13%
I-80 east
18.6 mi · 13%
US 20 East
18.4 mi · 13%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 11%
240th Street
6.28 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Northeast Hubbell Road

Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road

35.2 mi · 00h 42m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 27m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.6 mi
114.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Melbourne
01h 13m from Earlham
Leave By
1:34 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Earlham and Sunny near Waterloo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Earlham to Waterloo?

The road trip is about 141.2 miles (227.3 km) and usually takes 02h 27m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Melbourne is a useful midpoint, sitting about 70.6 miles from Earlham and 70.7 miles from Waterloo.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 114.6 miles (184.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:34 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.78 one way or $37.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 44.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Earlham and Sunny near Waterloo.

Stop Ideas Near Melbourne

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Melbourne, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Melbourne.

RAIL

Osceola

115 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Ottumwa station

117 mi away
210 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Earlham and Waterloo. Straight-line distance: 114.66 mi (184.53 km).

Earlham

#1 Earlham

City

Population1,409
Coordinates41.4919300, -94.1241200
Altitude336
CountryUnited States
Waterloo

#2 Waterloo

The most populous city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

Population67,292
Coordinates42.4927600, -92.3429600
Altitude261
CountryUnited States
Start: Northwest Locust Avenue (-94.124422, 41.491931)
End: West 4th Street (-92.342752, 42.492625)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 227 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 01m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.98 gal
18.87 L · about $18.78
Round trip
$37.56
9.96 gal · 37.74 L
Estimated CO2
44.3 kg one way
Round trip: 88.5 kg / 195 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $18.78 $37.56
Mid-grade $4.25 $21.18 $42.36
Premium $4.65 $23.18 $46.35
Diesel $5.30 $26.41 $52.83

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Iowa · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Earlham and Waterloo. The current time is 21:57:42.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.