How far is Waterloo, IA from Panora, IA?

The driving distance from Waterloo, IA to Panora, IA is about 148.9 miles (239.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 18m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 117.4 miles (189 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 37m 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
148.92 mi
03h 18m
Flight
117.43 mi
188.99 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
117.43 mi
Kilometers
188.99 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
148.92 mi
Kilometers
239.66 km
Drive Time
03h 18m

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 18m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Panora
Mon, May 4, 6:22 PM CDT
Return by in Waterloo
Mon, May 4, 9:40 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterloo
2026-05-04T15:03
Arrive Panora
Mon, May 4, 6:22 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 18m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:19 AM to 11:19 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
10:22 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
74.4 mi
01h 39m
To Panora
74.6 mi
01h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Monday

Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 18 mph WSW
Destination
79°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 14 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 141 West: Urbandale, Grimes

    2133 ft · 54 sec

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Northwest Urbandale Drive

    60 m · 3 sec · Northwest Urbandale Drive

  24. 24

    Continue on Southeast Grimes Boulevard

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Southeast Grimes Boulevard

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Southeast 19th Street

    1 mi · 3 min · Southeast 19th Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto South James Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South James Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto West 1st Street

    2.7 mi · 4 min · West 1st Street

  28. 28

    Continue on 240th Street

    5.4 mi · 7 min · 240th Street

  29. 29

    Continue on Sugar Grove Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Sugar Grove Avenue

  30. 30

    Continue on 240th Street

    16.1 mi · 22 min · 240th Street

  31. 31

    Continue on State Highway 44

    3.6 mi · 5 min · State Highway 44

  32. 32

    Continue on East Main Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · East Main Street

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
33 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
240th Street
27.7 mi · 19%
Avenue of the Saints
18.4 mi · 12%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 11%
I 80 west
14.6 mi · 10%
Marsh Avenue
5.95 mi · 4%
N Avenue
4.52 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn right

35.9 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 18m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.5 mi
117.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Melbourne
01h 39m from Waterloo
Leave By
10:22 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 148.9 miles (239.7 km) and usually takes 03h 18m 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 74.4 miles from Waterloo and 74.6 miles from Panora.

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

The direct path is about 117.4 miles (189 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.5 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 10:22 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.80 one way or $39.60 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 46.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Panora. Straight-line distance: 117.43 mi (188.99 km).

Waterloo

#1 Waterloo

The most populous city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

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

#2 Panora

City in Guthrie County, Iowa, United States of America

Population1,066
Coordinates41.6916500, -94.3630200
Altitude328
CountryUnited States
Start: Waterloo (-92.34296, 42.49276)
End: Panora (-94.36302, 41.69165)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 240 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 51m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.25 gal
19.89 L · about $19.80
Round trip
$39.60
10.5 gal · 39.78 L
Estimated CO2
46.7 kg one way
Round trip: 93.3 kg / 206 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $19.80 $39.60
Mid-grade $4.25 $22.33 $44.66
Premium $4.65 $24.43 $48.87
Diesel $5.30 $27.85 $55.69

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 04, 2026

There is no time difference between Waterloo and Panora. The current time is 15:03:19.

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.