How far is Waterloo, IA from Lenox, IA?

The driving distance from Waterloo, IA to Lenox, IA is about 209.3 miles (336.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 159.7 miles (257 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 01m 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
209.32 mi
04h 30m
Flight
159.67 mi
256.97 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waterloo.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
159.67 mi
Kilometers
256.97 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
209.32 mi
Kilometers
336.86 km
Drive Time
04h 30m

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 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lenox
Sun, May 31, 10:13 AM CDT
Return by in Waterloo
Sun, May 31, 2:43 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterloo
2026-05-31T05:42
Arrive Lenox
Sun, May 31, 10:13 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:31 AM to 12:31 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
7:58 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waterloo
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
Saylorville
IA

City in Polk County, Iowa, United States of America

From Waterloo
104.6 mi
02h 15m
To Lenox
104.7 mi
02h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 mph SE
Destination
82°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 13 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    4.5 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn right onto 210th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 210th Street

  12. 12

    Turn sharp left onto County Road T37

    1 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

  13. 13

    Continue on M Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto 240th Street

    6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

    15.9 mi · 22 min · Sanford Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto 160th Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 160th Street

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on North Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Marsh Avenue

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right

    35.9 mi · 43 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

    13 mi · 16 min

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight left

    40 mi · 43 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward US 34: Osceola, Creston

    958 ft · 33 sec

  24. 24

    Turn left

    38.3 mi · 54 min

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Adams-Union Avenue

    5.5 mi · 8 min · Adams-Union Avenue

  26. 26

    Continue on State Highway 25

    1 mi · 2 min · State Highway 25

  27. 27

    Turn right onto 110th Street

    4.2 mi · 7 min · 110th Street

  28. 28

    Continue on East Van Buren Street

    3007 ft · 1 min · East Van Buren Street

  29. 29

    Turn left onto North Maple Street

    1399 ft · 1 min · North Maple Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Maple Street

Car Route Details

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

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
30 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 west
58.5 mi · 28%
Avenue of the Saints
18.4 mi · 9%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 8%
240th Street
6.28 mi · 3%
Marsh Avenue
5.95 mi · 3%
Adams-Union Avenue
5.47 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 80 west

Keep slight left

40 mi · 00h 43m

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 30m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+49.6 mi
159.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saylorville
02h 15m from Waterloo
Leave By
7:58 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Waterloo and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lenox.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 209.3 miles (336.9 km) and usually takes 04h 30m 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?

Saylorville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 104.6 miles from Waterloo and 104.7 miles from Lenox.

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

The direct path is about 159.7 miles (257 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.6 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 7:58 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.87 one way or $55.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Waterloo and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lenox.

Stop Ideas Near Saylorville

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

72 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

92 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waterloo and Lenox. Straight-line distance: 159.67 mi (256.97 km).

Waterloo

#1 Waterloo

The most populous city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

Population67,292
Coordinates42.4927600, -92.3429600
Altitude261
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Lenox

Human settlement in Taylor County, Iowa, United States of America

Population1,386
Coordinates40.8816500, -94.5619100
Altitude395
CountryUnited States
Start: Waterloo (-92.34296, 42.49276)
End: Lenox (-94.56191, 40.88165)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 337 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.39 gal
27.96 L · about $27.87
Round trip
$55.74
14.78 gal · 55.92 L
Estimated CO2
65.7 kg one way
Round trip: 131.3 kg / 289 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.87 $55.74
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.43 $62.86
Premium $4.65 $34.39 $68.79
Diesel $5.30 $39.20 $78.39

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Waterloo and Lenox. The current time is 05:42:16.

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.