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

The driving distance from Waterloo, IA to State Center, IA is about 74.8 miles (120.3 km), with a travel time of about 01h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 53.3 miles (85.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 22m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
74.74 mi
01h 41m
Flight
53.32 mi
85.81 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waterloo.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
53.32 mi
Kilometers
85.81 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
74.74 mi
Kilometers
120.28 km
Drive Time
01h 41m

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 01h 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in State Center
Sun, May 3, 3:19 PM CDT
Return by in Waterloo
Sun, May 3, 5:00 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterloo
2026-05-03T13:37
Arrive State Center
Sun, May 3, 3:19 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:41 AM to 11:41 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:08 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waterloo
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Holland
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Waterloo
37.3 mi
00h 50m
To State Center
37.4 mi
00h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 3 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 mph W
Destination
45°F
Overnight

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 3 3:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo and State 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

    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

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  20. 20

    Take the ramp right

    1788 ft · 44 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway

    7.2 mi · 8 min · Lincoln Highway

  22. 22

    Turn right onto 3rd Avenue Southwest

    2153 ft · 47 sec · 3rd Avenue Southwest

  23. 23

    Turn right onto 4th Street Southwest

    860 ft · 23 sec · 4th Street Southwest

  24. 24

    Turn left onto 1st Avenue South

    1114 ft · 24 sec · 1st Avenue South

  25. 25

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    4 m · 1 sec · East Main Street

  26. 26

    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 State 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
26 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
34.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
18.4 mi · 25%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 21%
Lincoln Highway
7.18 mi · 10%
Marsh Avenue
6.28 mi · 8%
240th Street
6.28 mi · 8%
N Avenue
4.52 mi · 6%
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 comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 41m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.5 mi
53.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Holland
00h 50m from Waterloo
Leave By
3:08 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 74.8 miles (120.3 km) and usually takes 01h 41m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Holland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 37.3 miles from Waterloo and 37.4 miles from State Center.

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

The direct path is about 53.3 miles (85.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:08 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.96 one way or $19.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 23.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waterloo and State Center. Straight-line distance: 53.32 mi (85.81 km).

Waterloo

#1 Waterloo

The most populous city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

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

#2 State Center

City in Marshall County, Iowa, United States of America

Population1,432
Coordinates42.0166500, -93.1635400
Altitude326
CountryUnited States
Start: Waterloo (-92.34296, 42.49276)
End: State Center (-93.16354, 42.01665)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 120 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.64 gal
9.98 L · about $9.96
Round trip
$19.91
5.28 gal · 19.96 L
Estimated CO2
23.5 kg one way
Round trip: 46.9 kg / 103 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $9.96 $19.91
Mid-grade $4.25 $11.23 $22.46
Premium $4.65 $12.29 $24.57
Diesel $5.30 $14.00 $28.01

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 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Waterloo and State Center. The current time is 13:37:55.

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.