How far is Woodridge, IL from Waterloo, IL?

The driving distance from Woodridge, IL to Waterloo, IL is about 293.5 miles (472.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 260.5 miles (419.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 57m 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
293.52 mi
05h 28m
Flight
260.52 mi
419.26 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Woodridge.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
260.52 mi
Kilometers
419.26 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
293.52 mi
Kilometers
472.38 km
Drive Time
05h 28m

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 05h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waterloo
Thu, Oct 15, 5:58 PM CDT
Return by in Woodridge
Thu, Oct 15, 11:26 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Woodridge
2026-10-15T12:29
Arrive Waterloo
Thu, Oct 15, 5:58 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:29 AM to 1:29 PM CDT

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

Leave by
6:02 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Woodridge
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
Lincoln
IL

City in Illinois, United States

From Woodridge
146.8 mi
02h 44m
To Waterloo
146.8 mi
02h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E
Destination
84°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Woodridge Drive

    1296 ft · 46 sec · Woodridge Drive

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 75th Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · 75th Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet

    1727 ft · 44 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Tollway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis

    1453 ft · 36 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Joliet Road South

    1965 ft · 48 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    706 ft · 17 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

    111.5 mi · 2 hr 3 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

    64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    82 mi · 1 hr 29 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 255: Memphis, Interstate 270

    1386 ft · 34 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 255 South: Memphis

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    17.2 mi · 20 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight left toward IL 3 South: Columbia

    10.4 mi · 13 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto North Market Street

    1.4 mi · 4 min · North Market Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto West Mill Street

    79 m · 11 sec · West Mill Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Mill Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
17 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 South
147 mi · 50%
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
112 mi · 38%
I 255 South
18.3 mi · 6%
IL 3 South
10.4 mi · 4%
Veterans Memorial Tollway
2.55 mi · 1%
North Market Street
1.44 mi
Longest Stretch

Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

112 mi · 02h 03m

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
05h 28m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33 mi
260.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lincoln
02h 44m from Woodridge
Leave By
6:02 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Woodridge and Showers And Thunderstorms near Waterloo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 293.5 miles (472.4 km) and usually takes 05h 28m 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?

Lincoln is a useful midpoint, sitting about 146.8 miles from Woodridge and 146.8 miles from Waterloo.

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

The direct path is about 260.5 miles (419.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 33 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 6:02 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $48.33 one way or $96.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 92.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Woodridge and Showers And Thunderstorms near Waterloo.

Stop Ideas Near Lincoln

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Lincoln and the surrounding midpoint area.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
Scenic stop 12.1 mi away

Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!

Atlanta , IL
865 SW Arch St, Atlanta, IL 61723, United States
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Tourist attraction
City of Lincoln
Meeting point 3.6 mi away

City of Lincoln

Lincoln , IL
700 Broadway St, Lincoln, IL 62656
Rating 3.8/5 4 reviews City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lincoln.

RAIL

Lincoln

Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Springfield station

46 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.
RAIL

Uptown Station

51 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

64 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Woodridge and Waterloo. Straight-line distance: 260.52 mi (419.26 km).

Woodridge

#1 Woodridge

Suburb of Chicago in Illinois, USA

Population33,329
Coordinates41.7469700, -88.0503400
Altitude223
CountryUnited States
Waterloo

#2 Waterloo

City in Illinois

Population10,536
Coordinates38.3358900, -90.1498300
Altitude216
CountryUnited States
Start: Woodridge (-88.05034, 41.74697)
End: Waterloo (-90.14983, 38.33589)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 472 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.36 gal
39.21 L · about $48.33
Round trip
$96.66
20.72 gal · 78.42 L
Estimated CO2
92.1 kg one way
Round trip: 184.1 kg / 406 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $48.33 $96.66
Mid-grade $5.29 $54.83 $109.65
Premium $5.84 $60.47 $120.94
Diesel $6.57 $68.08 $136.15

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 Illinois · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Woodridge and Waterloo. The current time is 12:29:16.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.