How far is Missouri Valley, IA from Waterloo, IA?

The driving distance from Missouri Valley, IA to Waterloo, IA is about 230.4 miles (370.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 193.1 miles (310.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 47m 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
230.39 mi
03h 53m
Flight
193.08 mi
310.74 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Missouri Valley.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
193.08 mi
Kilometers
310.74 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
230.39 mi
Kilometers
370.78 km
Drive Time
03h 53m

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 03h 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waterloo
Sun, Apr 19, 3:57 AM CDT
Return by in Missouri Valley
Sun, Apr 19, 7:51 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Missouri Valley
2026-04-19T00:04
Arrive Waterloo
Sun, Apr 19, 3:57 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:54 AM to 11:54 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:12 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Missouri Valley
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
Clive
IA

Human settlement in Iowa, United States of America

From Missouri Valley
119.1 mi
01h 56m
To Waterloo
111.3 mi
01h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph WNW
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 Missouri Valley and Waterloo.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Missouri Valley and Waterloo.

  1. 1

    Start on East Erie Street

    2 m · 4 sec · East Erie Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South 6th Street

    2367 ft · 1 min · South 6th Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Loess Hills Trail

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Loess Hills Trail

  4. 4

    Continue on Old Lincoln Highway

    2978 ft · 49 sec · Old Lincoln Highway

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Desoto Avenue

    2849 ft · 1 min · Desoto Avenue

  6. 6

    Take the ramp right

    1775 ft · 43 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    2292 ft · 28 sec

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 880 East: Des Moines

    1.2 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    16 mi · 17 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Des Moines

    1.1 km · 44 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight right

    94.9 mi · 1 hr 42 min

  12. 12

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

    14.4 mi · 17 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left

    4.5 mi · 5 min

  14. 14

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

    2428 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

  16. 16

    Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road

    35.2 mi · 42 min · Northeast Hubbell Road

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Marsh Avenue

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on South Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

  19. 19

    Continue on 160th Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 160th Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

    15.9 mi · 22 min · Sanford Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right onto 240th Street

    6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto M Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

  23. 23

    Continue on County Road T37

    1 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

  24. 24

    Turn sharp right onto 210th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 210th Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto N Avenue

    4.4 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

  26. 26

    Take the ramp right toward US 20 East: Waterloo

    2388 ft · 58 sec

  27. 27

    Merge slight left

    18 mi · 21 min

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right toward US 63: Sergeant Road

    3054 ft · 1 min

  29. 29

    Turn slight right

    37 m · 6 sec

  30. 30

    Turn straight onto Sergeant Road

    3.8 mi · 6 min · Sergeant Road

  31. 31

    Turn right onto University Avenue

    118 m · 9 sec · University Avenue

  32. 32

    Turn straight

    1708 ft · 45 sec

  33. 33

    Turn right

    617 ft · 10 sec

  34. 34

    Continue on Washington Street

    1175 ft · 26 sec · Washington Street

  35. 35

    Turn right onto West 4th Street

    23 m · 2 sec · West 4th Street

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 4th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Missouri Valley 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
36 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 East
95.6 mi · 41%
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi · 15%
I 35
18.9 mi · 8%
US 20 East
18.4 mi · 8%
I 880 East
16.8 mi · 7%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

I 80 East

Merge slight right

94.9 mi · 01h 42m

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
03h 53m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.3 mi
193.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clive
01h 56m from Missouri Valley
Leave By
9:12 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Missouri Valley and Sunny near Waterloo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Missouri Valley to Waterloo?

The road trip is about 230.4 miles (370.8 km) and usually takes 03h 53m 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?

Clive is a useful midpoint, sitting about 119.1 miles from Missouri Valley and 111.3 miles from Waterloo.

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

The direct path is about 193.1 miles (310.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.3 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 9:12 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.66 one way or $61.32 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 72.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Missouri Valley and Sunny near Waterloo.

Stop Ideas Near Clive

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

63 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

81 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Missouri Valley and Waterloo. Straight-line distance: 193.08 mi (310.74 km).

Missouri Valley

#1 Missouri Valley

City in Harrison County, Iowa

Population2,576
Coordinates41.5563800, -95.8877900
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: East Erie Street (-95.887763, 41.556401)
End: West 4th Street (-92.342752, 42.492625)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 371 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.13 gal
30.77 L · about $30.66
Round trip
$61.32
16.26 gal · 61.54 L
Estimated CO2
72.3 kg one way
Round trip: 144.5 kg / 319 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $30.66 $61.32
Mid-grade $4.25 $34.58 $69.15
Premium $4.65 $37.84 $75.67
Diesel $5.30 $43.12 $86.24

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 · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Missouri Valley and Waterloo. The current time is 00:04:20.

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.