Introduction
What to do
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Waterloo travel guide

Waterloo Tourism | Waterloo Guide

You're Going to Love Waterloo

With a population of 68,406, Waterloo is a must-see destination in Iowa, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Waterloo has to offer.

When to visit Waterloo

Waterloo in April
Estimated hotel price
$97
1 night at 3-star hotel
Waterloo in April
Estimated hotel price
$97
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Waterloo in July, when the average temperature is 73.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 84.2 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 8.6 °F, with an average temperature of 19.4 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 5″. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Waterloo, with an average rainfall of 0.8″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Waterloo

Plane

When flying to Waterloo, you’ll arrive at Waterloo (ALO), which is located 5 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Waterloo departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 9h 40m.

Car

Another option to get to Waterloo is to pick up a car rental from Minneapolis, which is about 178 miles from Waterloo. You’ll find branches of Turo and Payless, among others, in Minneapolis.

Bus

Waterloo’s bus station is located 0.5 miles from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Waterloo, you’ll arrive at Waterloo (ALO), which is located 5 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Waterloo departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 9h 40m.

Car

Another option to get to Waterloo is to pick up a car rental from Minneapolis, which is about 178 miles from Waterloo. You’ll find branches of Turo and Payless, among others, in Minneapolis.

Bus

Waterloo’s bus station is located 0.5 miles from the city center.

Airports near Waterloo

ALOWaterloo
DSMDes Moines
CIDCedar Rapids

Airlines serving Waterloo

Lufthansa
Good (7,962 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,512 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,937 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,463 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,204 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,580 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,677 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,568 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,767 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,724 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,982 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,392 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,318 reviews)
Avianca
Good (2,517 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,536 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,911 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (1,202 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,798 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (2,969 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,216 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Waterloo

Where to stay in Waterloo

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Comfort Inn & Suites Waterloo - Cedar Falls and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Waterloo, IA.

Where to stay in popular areas of Waterloo

Most booked hotels in Waterloo

See all
Holiday Inn & Suites Cedar Falls-Waterloo Event Ctr by IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, 142 reviews)
$110+
View
Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Waterloo Cedar Falls
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 131 reviews)
$113+
View
Comfort Suites Cedar Falls Industrial Park
2 stars
Excellent (8.3, 250 reviews)
$92+
View
Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 446 reviews)
$71+
View
Super 8 by Wyndham Cedar Falls IA - University
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, 580 reviews)
$74+
View
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Cedar Falls, IA
2 stars
Good (7.9, 639 reviews)
$78+
View

Renting a car in Waterloo

Renting a car in Waterloo costs $79 per day, on average, or $237 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 18% more expensive than at Waterloo.

Expect to pay $4.39 per gallon in Waterloo (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $52.69 and $70.26. The most frequently booked car type in Waterloo is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Chevrolet Malibu or similar) are, on average, 41% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Waterloo costs $79 per day, on average, or $237 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 18% more expensive than at Waterloo.

Expect to pay $4.39 per gallon in Waterloo (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $52.69 and $70.26. The most frequently booked car type in Waterloo is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Chevrolet Malibu or similar) are, on average, 41% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Waterloo

Intermediate

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$52/day

Intermediate

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$62/day

Supplier choice
Find car rentals in Waterloo