How far is Waterloo, IA from Sumner, IA?

The driving distance from Waterloo, IA to Sumner, IA is about 37 miles (59.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 27.7 miles (44.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 44m 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
37.02 mi
00h 52m
Flight
27.64 mi
44.48 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
27.64 mi
Kilometers
44.48 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
37.02 mi
Kilometers
59.58 km
Drive Time
00h 52m

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 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sumner
Wed, Apr 22, 10:17 PM CDT
Return by in Waterloo
Wed, Apr 22, 11:09 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterloo
2026-04-22T21:24
Arrive Sumner
Wed, Apr 22, 10:17 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:52 AM to 10:52 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:46 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
Tripoli
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Waterloo
18.5 mi
00h 26m
To Sumner
18.5 mi
00h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 15 mph SE
Destination
78°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 16 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West 4th Street

    1230 ft · 45 sec · West 4th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Commercial Street

    1474 ft · 46 sec · Commercial Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto West 1st Street

    3169 ft · 1 min · West 1st Street

  4. 4

    Continue on East Mullan Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · East Mullan Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Logan Avenue

    8.7 mi · 12 min · Logan Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on Larrabee Avenue

    11.3 mi · 13 min · Larrabee Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn right onto 170th Street

    3.5 mi · 5 min · 170th Street

  8. 8

    Continue on 7th Avenue Southwest

    2681 ft · 51 sec · 7th Avenue Southwest

  9. 9

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Piedmont Avenue

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Piedmont Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on 140th Street

    6.2 mi · 9 min · 140th Street

  12. 12

    Continue on West 1st Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · West 1st Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 1st Street

Car Route Details

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

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
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
35.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Larrabee Avenue
11.3 mi · 30%
Logan Avenue
8.67 mi · 23%
140th Street
6.21 mi · 17%
170th Street
3.5 mi · 9%
Piedmont Avenue
2.32 mi · 6%
West 1st Street
2.11 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Larrabee Avenue

Continue on Larrabee Avenue

11.3 mi · 00h 13m

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
00h 52m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.3 mi
27.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tripoli
00h 26m from Waterloo
Leave By
4:46 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Waterloo and Sunny near Sumner.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 37 miles (59.6 km) and usually takes 00h 52m 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?

Tripoli is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.5 miles from Waterloo and 18.5 miles from Sumner.

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

The direct path is about 27.7 miles (44.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.3 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 4:46 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.94 one way or $9.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Waterloo and Sunny near Sumner.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waterloo and Sumner. Straight-line distance: 27.64 mi (44.48 km).

Waterloo

#1 Waterloo

The most populous city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

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

#2 Sumner

City in Bremer County, Iowa, United States of America

Population1,965
Coordinates42.8474800, -92.0915600
Altitude323
CountryUnited States
Start: Waterloo (-92.34296, 42.49276)
End: Sumner (-92.09156, 42.84748)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 60 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.31 gal
4.95 L · about $4.94
Round trip
$9.88
2.62 gal · 9.9 L
Estimated CO2
11.6 kg one way
Round trip: 23.3 kg / 51 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.94 $9.88
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.57 $11.14
Premium $4.65 $6.10 $12.19
Diesel $5.30 $6.95 $13.90

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Waterloo and Sumner. The current time is 21:24:59.

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.