How far is Waterloo, IA from Melcher-Dallas, IA?

The driving distance from Waterloo, IA to Melcher-Dallas, IA is about 141.2 miles (227.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 99 miles (159.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 10m 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
141.26 mi
03h 05m
Flight
99.04 mi
159.39 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
99.04 mi
Kilometers
159.39 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
141.26 mi
Kilometers
227.34 km
Drive Time
03h 05m

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 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Melcher-Dallas
Sat, Apr 18, 3:55 AM CDT
Return by in Waterloo
Sat, Apr 18, 7:00 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterloo
2026-04-18T00:49
Arrive Melcher-Dallas
Sat, Apr 18, 3:55 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:05 AM to 11:05 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
10:50 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
Melbourne
IA

City in Iowa, United States of America

From Waterloo
70.6 mi
01h 32m
To Melcher-Dallas
70.6 mi
01h 32m

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
50°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers

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

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Waterloo and Melcher-Dallas.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo and Melcher-Dallas.

  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

    36.4 mi · 43 min

  20. 20

    Continue on Hubbell Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Hubbell Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn left

    2686 ft · 1 min

  22. 22

    Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

    9.6 mi · 11 min · Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 5 South: Carlisle

    3203 ft · 1 min

  24. 24

    Continue straight

    18.5 mi · 21 min

  25. 25

    Continue on County Road S45

    3.7 mi · 7 min · County Road S45

  26. 26

    Keep slight left to continue on County Road S45

    5.5 mi · 10 min · County Road S45

  27. 27

    Continue on 1st Street Northwest

    141 m · 15 sec · 1st Street Northwest

  28. 28

    Turn left onto B Street Northwest

    112 m · 10 sec · B Street Northwest

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Northeast Main Street

    141 m · 9 sec · Northeast Main Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Northeast Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Waterloo and Melcher-Dallas.

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
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
21.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
IA 5 South
19.1 mi · 14%
Avenue of the Saints
18.4 mi · 13%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 11%
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
9.6 mi · 7%
County Road S45
9.19 mi · 7%
240th Street
6.28 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn right

36.4 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
03h 05m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+42.2 mi
99 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Melbourne
01h 32m from Waterloo
Leave By
10:50 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Waterloo and Chance Rain Showers near Melcher-Dallas.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Waterloo to Melcher-Dallas?

The road trip is about 141.2 miles (227.3 km) and usually takes 03h 05m 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?

Melbourne is a useful midpoint, sitting about 70.6 miles from Waterloo and 70.6 miles from Melcher-Dallas.

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

The direct path is about 99 miles (159.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.2 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 10:50 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.78 one way or $37.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 44.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Waterloo and Chance Rain Showers near Melcher-Dallas.

Stop Ideas Near Melbourne

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

115 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Ottumwa station

117 mi away
210 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waterloo and Melcher-Dallas. Straight-line distance: 99.04 mi (159.39 km).

Waterloo

#1 Waterloo

The most populous city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

Population67,292
Coordinates42.4927600, -92.3429600
Altitude261
CountryUnited States
Melcher-Dallas

#2 Melcher-Dallas

City in Marion County, Iowa, United States

Population1,236
Coordinates41.2250000, -93.2413200
Altitude289
CountryUnited States
Start: Waterloo (-92.34296, 42.49276)
End: Melcher-Dallas (-93.24132, 41.225)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 227 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 01m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.98 gal
18.87 L · about $18.78
Round trip
$37.56
9.96 gal · 37.74 L
Estimated CO2
44.3 kg one way
Round trip: 88.5 kg / 195 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $18.78 $37.56
Mid-grade $4.25 $21.18 $42.36
Premium $4.65 $23.18 $46.35
Diesel $5.30 $26.41 $52.83

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 Melcher-Dallas. The current time is 00:49:51.

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.