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 September
Estimated hotel price
$97
1 night at 3-star hotel
Waterloo in September
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 Pittsburgh and takes around 9h 16m.

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 Ace and Turo, among others, in Minneapolis.

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 Pittsburgh and takes around 9h 16m.

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 Ace and Turo, among others, in Minneapolis.

Airports near Waterloo

ALOWaterloo
DSMDes Moines
CIDCedar Rapids

Airlines serving Waterloo

Lufthansa
Good (8,157 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,546 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,132 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,486 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,256 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,625 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,037 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,744 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,636 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,903 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,388 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,423 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,716 reviews)
Avianca
Good (2,520 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (2,766 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,472 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,965 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,679 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,880 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (1,281 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
Hampton Inn by Hilton Cedar Falls Downtown
2 stars
Excellent (8.6, 178 reviews)
$145+
View
Comfort Suites Cedar Falls Industrial Park
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 255 reviews)
$85+
View
Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Waterloo Cedar Falls
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 127 reviews)
$123+
View
Hilton Garden Inn Cedar Falls
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 230 reviews)
$112+
View
Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo Hotel & Casino - A Caesars Rewards Destination
3 stars
Excellent (8, 456 reviews)
$71+
View
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Cedar Falls, IA
2 stars
Good (7.9, 647 reviews)
$85+
View

Renting a car in Waterloo

Renting a car in Waterloo costs $79 per day, on average, or $236 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 8% cheaper than airport locations in Waterloo.

Expect to pay $4.24 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 $50.88 and $67.83. Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Waterloo, while also 22% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Waterloo costs $79 per day, on average, or $236 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 8% cheaper than airport locations in Waterloo.

Expect to pay $4.24 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 $50.88 and $67.83. Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Waterloo, while also 22% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car rental deals in Waterloo

Standard

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$44/day

Standard

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$50/day

Economy
Find car rentals in Waterloo