How far is Malvern, IA from Waterloo, IA?

The driving distance from Malvern, IA to Waterloo, IA is about 249.2 miles (401 km), with a travel time of about 04h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 196.3 miles (315.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 30m 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
249.18 mi
04h 15m
Flight
196.28 mi
315.88 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Malvern.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
196.28 mi
Kilometers
315.88 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
249.18 mi
Kilometers
401.02 km
Drive Time
04h 15m

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 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waterloo
Tue, Jun 2, 9:36 AM CDT
Return by in Malvern
Tue, Jun 2, 1:51 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Malvern
2026-06-02T05:21
Arrive Waterloo
Tue, Jun 2, 9:36 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:15 AM to 12:15 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
8:30 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Malvern
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Waukee
IA

City in Dallas County, Iowa, United States of America

From Malvern
124.5 mi
02h 07m
To Waterloo
124.7 mi
02h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph ESE
Destination
81°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    1.5 km · 3 min · Main Street

  2. 2

    Continue on County Highway L63

    1.6 km · 2 min · County Highway L63

  3. 3

    Turn right

    9.6 mi · 14 min

  4. 4

    Turn right

    1060 ft · 43 sec

  5. 5

    Turn right

    20.4 mi · 29 min

  6. 6

    Turn left

    6.4 mi · 9 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    7.5 mi · 11 min

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right

    1377 ft · 34 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    82.1 mi · 1 hr 28 min

  10. 10

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

    14.4 mi · 17 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    4.5 mi · 5 min

  12. 12

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

    2428 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

  14. 14

    Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road

    35.2 mi · 42 min · Northeast Hubbell Road

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Marsh Avenue

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

  16. 16

    Continue on South Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

  17. 17

    Continue on 160th Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 160th Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

    15.9 mi · 22 min · Sanford Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto 240th Street

    6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto M Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

  21. 21

    Continue on County Road T37

    1 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

  22. 22

    Turn sharp right onto 210th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 210th Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto N Avenue

    4.4 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

  24. 24

    Take the ramp right toward US 20 East: Waterloo

    2388 ft · 58 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left

    18 mi · 21 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward US 63: Sergeant Road

    3054 ft · 1 min

  27. 27

    Turn slight right

    37 m · 6 sec

  28. 28

    Turn straight onto Sergeant Road

    3.8 mi · 6 min · Sergeant Road

  29. 29

    Turn right onto University Avenue

    118 m · 9 sec · University Avenue

  30. 30

    Turn straight

    1708 ft · 45 sec

  31. 31

    Turn right

    617 ft · 10 sec

  32. 32

    Continue on Washington Street

    1175 ft · 26 sec · Washington Street

  33. 33

    Turn right onto West 4th Street

    23 m · 2 sec · West 4th Street

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 4th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Malvern 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
34 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
County Highway L63
90.8 mi · 36%
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi · 14%
I 35
18.9 mi · 8%
US 20 East
18.4 mi · 7%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 6%
240th Street
6.28 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

County Highway L63

Merge slight left

82.1 mi · 01h 28m

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 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52.9 mi
196.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Waukee
02h 07m from Malvern
Leave By
8:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Malvern and Sunny near Waterloo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 249.2 miles (401 km) and usually takes 04h 15m 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?

Waukee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 124.5 miles from Malvern and 124.7 miles from Waterloo.

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

The direct path is about 196.3 miles (315.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.9 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 8:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.15 one way or $66.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Malvern and Sunny near Waterloo.

Stop Ideas Near Waukee

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

65 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

73 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Malvern and Waterloo. Straight-line distance: 196.28 mi (315.88 km).

Malvern

#1 Malvern

City in Mills County, Iowa, United States

Population1,105
Coordinates41.0027800, -95.5852800
Altitude307
CountryUnited States
Waterloo

#2 Waterloo

The most populous city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

Population67,292
Coordinates42.4927600, -92.3429600
Altitude261
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-95.585124, 41.00278)
End: West 4th Street (-92.342752, 42.492625)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 401 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 09m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.79 gal
33.28 L · about $33.15
Round trip
$66.29
17.58 gal · 66.56 L
Estimated CO2
78.1 kg one way
Round trip: 156.2 kg / 344 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $33.15 $66.29
Mid-grade $4.25 $37.38 $74.77
Premium $4.65 $40.91 $81.82
Diesel $5.30 $46.62 $93.24

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 · Jun 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Malvern and Waterloo. The current time is 05:21:24.

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.