How far is Waterloo, IA from Urbana, IA?

The driving distance from Waterloo, IA to Urbana, IA is about 33.2 miles (53.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 30.3 miles (48.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 17m 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
33.19 mi
00h 38m
Flight
30.28 mi
48.73 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waterloo.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
30.28 mi
Kilometers
48.73 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
33.19 mi
Kilometers
53.41 km
Drive Time
00h 38m

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 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Urbana
Fri, Apr 17, 8:00 AM CDT
Return by in Waterloo
Fri, Apr 17, 8:39 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterloo
2026-04-17T07:21
Arrive Urbana
Fri, Apr 17, 8:00 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:39 AM to 7:39 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:12 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Waterloo
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
La Porte City
IA

City in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States of America

From Waterloo
16.6 mi
00h 19m
To Urbana
16.6 mi
00h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Friday

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 21 mph SSE
Destination
78°F
Friday

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West 4th Street

    23 m · 6 sec · West 4th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Washington Street

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Washington Street

  3. 3

    Keep slight right to continue on I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls

    6.5 mi · 8 min

  4. 4

    Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints

    23.1 mi · 25 min · Avenue of the Saints

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward Urbana

    1746 ft · 45 sec

  6. 6

    Turn right onto 55th Street

    758 ft · 15 sec · 55th Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Union Avenue

    1153 ft · 27 sec · Union Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn right onto West Wood Street

    795 ft · 22 sec · West Wood Street

  9. 9

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Wood Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
9 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
27.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
23.4 mi · 71%
I-380 south
6.54 mi · 20%
Washington Street
2.72 mi · 8%
Union Avenue
0.22 mi · 1%
West Wood Street
0.15 mi
55th Street
0.14 mi
Longest Stretch

Avenue of the Saints

Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints

23.1 mi · 00h 25m

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 38m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.9 mi
30.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
La Porte City
00h 19m from Waterloo
Leave By
7:12 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Waterloo and Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Urbana.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 33.2 miles (53.4 km) and usually takes 00h 38m 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?

La Porte City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 16.6 miles from Waterloo and 16.6 miles from Urbana.

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

The direct path is about 30.3 miles (48.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.9 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 7:12 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.41 one way or $8.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Waterloo and Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Urbana.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waterloo and Urbana. Straight-line distance: 30.28 mi (48.73 km).

Waterloo

#1 Waterloo

The most populous city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

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

#2 Urbana

City in Benton County, Iowa, United States

Population1,498
Coordinates42.2241600, -91.8743400
Altitude286
CountryUnited States
Start: Waterloo (-92.34296, 42.49276)
End: Urbana (-91.87434, 42.22416)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 53 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.17 gal
4.43 L · about $4.41
Round trip
$8.82
2.34 gal · 8.86 L
Estimated CO2
10.4 kg one way
Round trip: 20.8 kg / 46 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.41 $8.82
Mid-grade $4.25 $4.98 $9.95
Premium $4.65 $5.45 $10.89
Diesel $5.30 $6.21 $12.41

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Waterloo and Urbana. The current time is 07:21:29.

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.