How far is Waterloo, IA from Winterset, IA?

The driving distance from Waterloo, IA to Winterset, IA is about 147.3 miles (237.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 117.6 miles (189.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 22m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
147.36 mi
03h 11m
Flight
117.58 mi
189.23 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waterloo.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
117.58 mi
Kilometers
189.23 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
147.36 mi
Kilometers
237.15 km
Drive Time
03h 11m

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 03h 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Winterset
Wed, Apr 15, 8:30 PM CDT
Return by in Waterloo
Wed, Apr 15, 11:41 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterloo
2026-04-15T17:19
Arrive Winterset
Wed, Apr 15, 8:30 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:11 AM to 11:11 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:38 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waterloo
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Melbourne
IA

City in Iowa, United States of America

From Waterloo
73.6 mi
01h 35m
To Winterset
73.8 mi
01h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Overnight

Patchy Fog

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph N
Destination
76°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    35.9 mi · 43 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

    13 mi · 16 min

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

    12.8 mi · 14 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward US 169, US 6: Adel, Winterset

    1742 ft · 51 sec

  24. 24

    Turn left onto North Avenue

    147 m · 9 sec · North Avenue

  25. 25

    Continue on Guthrie Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Guthrie Street

  26. 26

    Continue on North Avenue

    13.7 mi · 21 min · North Avenue

  27. 27

    Turn right onto West Grade Street

    38 m · 6 sec · West Grade Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Grade Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
28 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
19 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 west
31.4 mi · 21%
Avenue of the Saints
18.4 mi · 12%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 11%
North Avenue
13.8 mi · 9%
240th Street
6.28 mi · 4%
Marsh Avenue
5.95 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn right

35.9 mi · 00h 43m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 11m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29.7 mi
117.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Melbourne
01h 35m from Waterloo
Leave By
10:38 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog leaving Waterloo and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Winterset.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 147.3 miles (237.1 km) and usually takes 03h 11m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Melbourne is a useful midpoint, sitting about 73.6 miles from Waterloo and 73.8 miles from Winterset.

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

The direct path is about 117.6 miles (189.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.7 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:38 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.61 one way or $39.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 46.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog around Waterloo and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Winterset.

Stop Ideas Near Melbourne

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

115 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Ottumwa station

117 mi away
210 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waterloo and Winterset. Straight-line distance: 117.58 mi (189.23 km).

Waterloo

#1 Waterloo

The most populous city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

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

#2 Winterset

City in Iowa

Population5,428
Coordinates41.3308200, -94.0138400
Altitude332
CountryUnited States
Start: Waterloo (-92.34296, 42.49276)
End: Winterset (-94.01384, 41.33082)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 237 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.2 gal
19.68 L · about $19.61
Round trip
$39.22
10.4 gal · 39.36 L
Estimated CO2
46.2 kg one way
Round trip: 92.4 kg / 204 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $19.61 $39.22
Mid-grade $4.25 $22.12 $44.23
Premium $4.65 $24.20 $48.40
Diesel $5.30 $27.58 $55.16

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Waterloo and Winterset. The current time is 17:19:05.

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.