How far is Waterloo, IA from Grundy Center, IA?

The driving distance from Waterloo, IA to Grundy Center, IA is about 30.3 miles (48.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 23.5 miles (37.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 20m 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
30.24 mi
00h 40m
Flight
23.52 mi
37.85 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waterloo.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
23.52 mi
Kilometers
37.85 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
30.24 mi
Kilometers
48.67 km
Drive Time
00h 40m

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 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Grundy Center
Fri, Apr 17, 6:05 PM CDT
Return by in Waterloo
Fri, Apr 17, 6:45 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterloo
2026-04-17T17:25
Arrive Grundy Center
Fri, Apr 17, 6:05 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:40 AM to 7:40 PM CDT

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

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

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
Dike
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Waterloo
15.1 mi
00h 20m
To Grundy Center
15.2 mi
00h 20m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Friday

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 21 mph SSE
Destination
76°F
Friday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 22 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo and Grundy Center.

  1. 1

    Start on West 4th Street

    23 m · 6 sec · West 4th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Washington Street

    117 m · 10 sec · Washington Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto West 5th Street

    1622 ft · 34 sec · West 5th Street

  4. 4

    Continue on West 4th Street

    2.4 mi · 4 min · West 4th Street

  5. 5

    Turn slight right onto West Ridgeway Avenue

    3073 ft · 1 min · West Ridgeway Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Sergeant Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · Sergeant Road

  7. 7

    Take the ramp left

    1428 ft · 36 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    18.4 mi · 21 min · Avenue of the Saints

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center

    2083 ft · 59 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto N Avenue

    6.3 mi · 9 min · N Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on 4th Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · 4th Street

  12. 12

    At the end of the road, turn right onto G Avenue

    20 m · 1 sec · G Avenue

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · G Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
13 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
43 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
18.4 mi · 61%
N Avenue
6.3 mi · 21%
West 4th Street
2.37 mi · 8%
Sergeant Road
1.07 mi · 4%
4th Street
0.76 mi · 3%
West Ridgeway Avenue
0.58 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Avenue of the Saints

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

18.4 mi · 00h 21m

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 40m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.8 mi
23.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dike
00h 20m from Waterloo
Leave By
7:10 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Waterloo and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Grundy Center.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Waterloo to Grundy Center?

The road trip is about 30.3 miles (48.7 km) and usually takes 00h 40m 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?

Dike is a useful midpoint, sitting about 15.1 miles from Waterloo and 15.2 miles from Grundy Center.

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

The direct path is about 23.5 miles (37.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.8 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 7:10 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.03 one way or $8.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Waterloo and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Grundy Center.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waterloo and Grundy Center. Straight-line distance: 23.52 mi (37.85 km).

Waterloo

#1 Waterloo

The most populous city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

Population67,292
Coordinates42.4927600, -92.3429600
Altitude261
CountryUnited States
Grundy Center

#2 Grundy Center

City in Iowa

Population2,670
Coordinates42.3616500, -92.7685300
Altitude312
CountryUnited States
Start: Waterloo (-92.34296, 42.49276)
End: Grundy Center (-92.76853, 42.36165)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 49 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.07 gal
4.04 L · about $4.03
Round trip
$8.07
2.14 gal · 8.08 L
Estimated CO2
9.5 kg one way
Round trip: 19 kg / 42 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.03 $8.07
Mid-grade $4.25 $4.55 $9.10
Premium $4.65 $4.98 $9.96
Diesel $5.30 $5.68 $11.35

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Waterloo and Grundy Center. The current time is 17:25:23.

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.