How far is Waterloo, IA from Denver, IA?

The driving distance from Waterloo, IA to Denver, IA is about 12.7 miles (20.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 12.4 miles (19.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 39m 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
12.66 mi
00h 19m
Flight
12.35 mi
19.87 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waterloo.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
12.35 mi
Kilometers
19.87 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
12.66 mi
Kilometers
20.37 km
Drive Time
00h 19m

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 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Denver
Sat, Apr 18, 4:17 AM CDT
Return by in Waterloo
Sat, Apr 18, 4:36 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterloo
2026-04-18T03:57
Arrive Denver
Sat, Apr 18, 4:17 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:20 AM to 7:20 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:50 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Waterloo
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
Cedar Falls
IA

The largest city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

From Waterloo
6.3 mi
00h 09m
To Denver
6.3 mi
00h 09m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
49°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
21 mph WNW
Destination
49°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
18 to 23 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West 4th Street

    1230 ft · 45 sec · West 4th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Commercial Street

    1474 ft · 46 sec · Commercial Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto West 1st Street

    3169 ft · 1 min · West 1st Street

  4. 4

    Continue on East Mullan Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · East Mullan Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Logan Avenue

    8.7 mi · 12 min · Logan Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on Larrabee Avenue

    1.3 mi · 1 min · Larrabee Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn right onto State Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · State Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto West Fayette Street

    12 m · 1 sec · West Fayette Street

  9. 9

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Fayette Street

Car Route Details

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

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
9 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
70.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Logan Avenue
8.67 mi · 68%
Larrabee Avenue
1.27 mi · 10%
East Mullan Avenue
0.84 mi · 7%
State Street
0.76 mi · 6%
West 1st Street
0.6 mi · 5%
Commercial Street
0.28 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Logan Avenue

Continue on Logan Avenue

8.67 mi · 00h 12m

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 19m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+0.3 mi
12.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cedar Falls
00h 09m from Waterloo
Leave By
7:50 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Waterloo and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Denver.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 12.7 miles (20.4 km) and usually takes 00h 19m 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?

Cedar Falls is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.3 miles from Waterloo and 6.3 miles from Denver.

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

The direct path is about 12.4 miles (19.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 0.3 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:50 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.70 one way or $3.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Waterloo and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Denver.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waterloo and Denver. Straight-line distance: 12.35 mi (19.87 km).

Waterloo

#1 Waterloo

The most populous city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

Population67,292
Coordinates42.4927600, -92.3429600
Altitude261
CountryUnited States
Denver

#2 Denver

City in Iowa, US

Population1,879
Coordinates42.6713700, -92.3374000
Altitude289
CountryUnited States
Start: Waterloo (-92.34296, 42.49276)
End: Denver (-92.3374, 42.67137)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 20 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.45 gal
1.69 L · about $1.70
Round trip
$3.39
0.9 gal · 3.38 L
Estimated CO2
4 kg one way
Round trip: 8 kg / 18 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $1.70 $3.39
Mid-grade $4.25 $1.91 $3.83
Premium $4.65 $2.09 $4.19
Diesel $5.30 $2.39 $4.77

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Waterloo and Denver. The current time is 03:57:45.

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.