How far is Waterloo, IA from West Liberty, IA?

The driving distance from Waterloo, IA to West Liberty, IA is about 102 miles (164.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 84.4 miles (135.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 57m 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
102 mi
01h 58m
Flight
84.45 mi
135.91 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
84.45 mi
Kilometers
135.91 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
102 mi
Kilometers
164.15 km
Drive Time
01h 58m

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 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in West Liberty
Fri, Apr 17, 12:29 PM CDT
Return by in Waterloo
Fri, Apr 17, 2:28 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterloo
2026-04-17T10:31
Arrive West Liberty
Fri, Apr 17, 12:29 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:59 AM to 11:59 AM CDT

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

Leave by
2:32 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
Hiawatha
IA

City in Iowa

From Waterloo
51 mi
00h 59m
To West Liberty
51 mi
00h 59m

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
81°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo and West Liberty.

  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

    64.7 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Avenue of the Saints

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80

    1362 ft · 33 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Davenport

    1.2 mi · 3 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    19.6 mi · 22 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward West Liberty

    1558 ft · 30 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Garfield Avenue

    5.7 mi · 8 min · Garfield Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn left onto North Columbus Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · North Columbus Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto East 3rd Street

    820 ft · 16 sec · East 3rd Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 3rd Street

Car Route Details

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

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
12 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi · 63%
I 80 East
21.2 mi · 21%
I-380 south
6.54 mi · 6%
Garfield Avenue
5.72 mi · 6%
Washington Street
2.72 mi · 3%
North Columbus Street
0.75 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Avenue of the Saints

Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints

64.7 mi · 01h 12m

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 58m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+17.6 mi
84.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hiawatha
00h 59m from Waterloo
Leave By
2:32 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Waterloo and Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near West Liberty.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Waterloo to West Liberty?

The road trip is about 102 miles (164.1 km) and usually takes 01h 58m 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?

Hiawatha is a useful midpoint, sitting about 51 miles from Waterloo and 51 miles from West Liberty.

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

The direct path is about 84.4 miles (135.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 17.6 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 2:32 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.58 one way or $27.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Hiawatha

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Hiawatha, 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 Hiawatha.

BUS

Davenport, Iowa

108 mi away
304 West River Drive
BUS

Rock Island, IL

111 mi away
3500 5th Avenue
BUS

Moline, Illinois

117 mi away
1200 River Drive
RAIL

Mount Pleasant

119 mi away
418 North Adams Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waterloo and West Liberty. Straight-line distance: 84.45 mi (135.91 km).

Waterloo

#1 Waterloo

The most populous city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

Population67,292
Coordinates42.4927600, -92.3429600
Altitude261
CountryUnited States
West Liberty

#2 West Liberty

City in Morgan County, Kentucky

Population3,734
Coordinates41.5700200, -91.2637700
Altitude206
CountryUnited States
Start: Waterloo (-92.34296, 42.49276)
End: West Liberty (-91.26377, 41.57002)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 164 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.6 gal
13.62 L · about $13.58
Round trip
$27.15
7.2 gal · 27.24 L
Estimated CO2
32 kg one way
Round trip: 64 kg / 141 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.58 $27.15
Mid-grade $4.25 $15.31 $30.62
Premium $4.65 $16.75 $33.51
Diesel $5.30 $19.09 $38.19

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 West Liberty. The current time is 10:31:19.

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.