How far is Traer, IA from Waterloo, IA?

The driving distance from Traer, IA to Waterloo, IA is about 23.7 miles (38.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 21.6 miles (34.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 57m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
23.68 mi
00h 28m
Flight
21.6 mi
34.76 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Traer.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
21.6 mi
Kilometers
34.76 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
23.68 mi
Kilometers
38.11 km
Drive Time
00h 28m

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 00h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waterloo
Wed, Apr 22, 11:47 PM CDT
Return by in Traer
Thu, Apr 23, 12:16 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Traer
2026-04-22T23:18
Arrive Waterloo
Wed, Apr 22, 11:47 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:29 AM to 7:29 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:32 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Traer
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Hudson
IA

City in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

From Traer
11.9 mi
00h 14m
To Waterloo
11.9 mi
00h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSE
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 Traer and Waterloo.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Main Street

    2060 ft · 50 sec · South Main Street

  2. 2

    Continue on County Road D65

    4.4 mi · 6 min · County Road D65

  3. 3

    Continue on Q Avenue

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Q Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on South Hudson Road

    6.4 mi · 9 min · South Hudson Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Sergeant Road

    9.3 mi · 14 min · Sergeant Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto University Avenue

    118 m · 9 sec · University Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn straight

    1708 ft · 45 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right

    617 ft · 10 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on Washington Street

    1175 ft · 26 sec · Washington Street

  10. 10

    Turn right onto West 4th Street

    23 m · 2 sec · West 4th Street

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 4th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
11 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
46.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Sergeant Road
9.27 mi · 39%
South Hudson Road
6.4 mi · 27%
County Road D65
4.37 mi · 18%
Q Avenue
2.5 mi · 11%
South Main Street
0.39 mi · 2%
Washington Street
0.22 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Sergeant Road

Continue on Sergeant Road

9.27 mi · 00h 14m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 28m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.1 mi
21.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hudson
00h 14m from Traer
Leave By
7:32 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Traer and Sunny near Waterloo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 23.7 miles (38.1 km) and usually takes 00h 28m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Hudson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.9 miles from Traer and 11.9 miles from Waterloo.

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

The direct path is about 21.6 miles (34.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.1 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:32 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.13 one way or $6.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Traer and Waterloo. Straight-line distance: 21.6 mi (34.76 km).

Traer

#1 Traer

City in Tama County, Iowa, United States of America

Population1,585
Coordinates42.1936000, -92.4654700
Altitude279
CountryUnited States
Waterloo

#2 Waterloo

The most populous city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

Population67,292
Coordinates42.4927600, -92.3429600
Altitude261
CountryUnited States
Start: South Main Street (-92.465469, 42.1936)
End: West 4th Street (-92.342752, 42.492625)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 38 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.83 gal
3.16 L · about $3.13
Round trip
$6.26
1.66 gal · 6.32 L
Estimated CO2
7.4 kg one way
Round trip: 14.8 kg / 33 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $3.13 $6.26
Mid-grade $4.25 $3.53 $7.06
Premium $4.65 $3.86 $7.73
Diesel $5.30 $4.40 $8.80

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 Traer and Waterloo. The current time is 23:18:44.

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.