How far is Waterloo, IA from Traer, IA?

The driving distance from Waterloo, IA to Traer, IA is about 23.5 miles (37.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 21.6 miles (34.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 09m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
23.48 mi
00h 34m
Flight
21.6 mi
34.76 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waterloo.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
21.6 mi
Kilometers
34.76 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
23.48 mi
Kilometers
37.78 km
Drive Time
00h 34m

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 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Traer
Thu, Apr 23, 4:28 AM CDT
Return by in Waterloo
Thu, Apr 23, 5:03 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterloo
2026-04-23T03:53
Arrive Traer
Thu, Apr 23, 4:28 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:35 AM to 7:35 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:20 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Waterloo
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Hudson
IA

City in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

From Waterloo
11.7 mi
00h 17m
To Traer
11.7 mi
00h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 to 25 mph S
Destination
73°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 to 26 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    6.5 mi · 9 min · Sergeant Road

  7. 7

    Continue on South Hudson Road

    6.4 mi · 9 min · South Hudson Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Q Avenue

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Q Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on County Road D65

    4.4 mi · 6 min · County Road D65

  10. 10

    Continue on North Main Street

    2060 ft · 50 sec · North Main Street

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
11 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
46.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Sergeant Road
6.49 mi · 28%
South Hudson Road
6.4 mi · 27%
County Road D65
4.37 mi · 19%
Q Avenue
2.5 mi · 11%
West 4th Street
2.37 mi · 10%
West Ridgeway Avenue
0.58 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Sergeant Road

Turn left onto Sergeant Road

6.49 mi · 00h 09m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 34m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.9 mi
21.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hudson
00h 17m from Waterloo
Leave By
7:20 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Waterloo and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Traer.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 23.5 miles (37.8 km) and usually takes 00h 34m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Hudson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.7 miles from Waterloo and 11.7 miles from Traer.

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

The direct path is about 21.6 miles (34.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.9 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:20 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.13 one way or $6.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waterloo and Traer. Straight-line distance: 21.6 mi (34.76 km).

Waterloo

#1 Waterloo

The most populous city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

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

#2 Traer

City in Tama County, Iowa, United States of America

Population1,585
Coordinates42.1936000, -92.4654700
Altitude279
CountryUnited States
Start: Waterloo (-92.34296, 42.49276)
End: Traer (-92.46547, 42.1936)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 38 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.83 gal
3.14 L · about $3.13
Round trip
$6.26
1.66 gal · 6.28 L
Estimated CO2
7.4 kg one way
Round trip: 14.8 kg / 33 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $3.13 $6.26
Mid-grade $4.25 $3.53 $7.06
Premium $4.65 $3.86 $7.73
Diesel $5.30 $4.40 $8.80

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 Traer. The current time is 03:53:54.

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.