How far is Glenwood, IA from Waterloo, IA?

The driving distance from Glenwood, IA to Waterloo, IA is about 272.5 miles (438.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 201.6 miles (324.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 15m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
272.46 mi
04h 07m
Flight
201.64 mi
324.51 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Glenwood.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
201.64 mi
Kilometers
324.51 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
272.46 mi
Kilometers
438.48 km
Drive Time
04h 07m

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 04h 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waterloo
Sun, Apr 19, 10:41 AM CDT
Return by in Glenwood
Sun, Apr 19, 2:49 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Glenwood
2026-04-19T06:34
Arrive Waterloo
Sun, Apr 19, 10:41 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:08 AM to 12:08 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:44 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Glenwood
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Van Meter
IA

Township in Dallas County, Iowa

From Glenwood
128.2 mi
02h 03m
To Waterloo
144.3 mi
02h 03m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph W
Destination
52°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    63 m · 16 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Vine Street

    42 m · 10 sec · North Vine Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Sharp Street

    3268 ft · 1 min · Sharp Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Hilman Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · Hilman Road

  5. 5

    Turn right

    2.4 mi · 3 min

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right

    13.1 mi · 15 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Des Moines

    1.1 km · 46 sec

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    118.2 mi · 2 hr 7 min

  9. 9

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

    14.4 mi · 17 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    4.5 mi · 5 min

  11. 11

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

    2428 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road

    35.2 mi · 42 min · Northeast Hubbell Road

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Marsh Avenue

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on South Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

  16. 16

    Continue on 160th Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 160th Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

    15.9 mi · 22 min · Sanford Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto 240th Street

    6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto M Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

  20. 20

    Continue on County Road T37

    1 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

  21. 21

    Turn sharp right onto 210th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 210th Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto N Avenue

    4.4 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

  23. 23

    Take the ramp right toward US 20 East: Waterloo

    2388 ft · 58 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left

    18 mi · 21 min

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward US 63: Sergeant Road

    3054 ft · 1 min

  26. 26

    Turn slight right

    37 m · 6 sec

  27. 27

    Turn straight onto Sergeant Road

    3.8 mi · 6 min · Sergeant Road

  28. 28

    Turn right onto University Avenue

    118 m · 9 sec · University Avenue

  29. 29

    Turn straight

    1708 ft · 45 sec

  30. 30

    Turn right

    617 ft · 10 sec

  31. 31

    Continue on Washington Street

    1175 ft · 26 sec · Washington Street

  32. 32

    Turn right onto West 4th Street

    23 m · 2 sec · West 4th Street

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 4th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
33 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 East
119 mi · 44%
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi · 13%
I 35
18.9 mi · 7%
US 20 East
18.4 mi · 7%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 6%
Hilman Road
14 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

I 80 East

Continue straight

118 mi · 02h 07m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 07m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+70.9 mi
201.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Van Meter
02h 03m from Glenwood
Leave By
8:44 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Glenwood and Sunny near Waterloo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 272.5 miles (438.5 km) and usually takes 04h 07m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Van Meter is a useful midpoint, sitting about 128.2 miles from Glenwood and 144.3 miles from Waterloo.

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

The direct path is about 201.6 miles (324.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 70.9 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:44 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.24 one way or $72.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 85.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Van Meter

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Van Meter, 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 Van Meter.

RAIL

Osceola

57 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

63 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Glenwood and Waterloo. Straight-line distance: 201.64 mi (324.51 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Glenwood

City in Iowa

Population5,261
Coordinates41.0469400, -95.7425100
Altitude310
CountryUnited States
Waterloo

#2 Waterloo

The most populous city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

Population67,292
Coordinates42.4927600, -92.3429600
Altitude261
CountryUnited States
Start: (-95.742512, 41.046903)
End: West 4th Street (-92.342752, 42.492625)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 438 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 53m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.61 gal
36.39 L · about $36.24
Round trip
$72.48
19.22 gal · 72.78 L
Estimated CO2
85.4 kg one way
Round trip: 170.8 kg / 377 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $36.24 $72.48
Mid-grade $4.25 $40.87 $81.74
Premium $4.65 $44.72 $89.45
Diesel $5.30 $50.97 $101.94

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Glenwood and Waterloo. The current time is 06:34:03.

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.