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 January
Estimated hotel price
$87
1 night at 3-star hotel
Waterloo in January
Estimated hotel price
$87
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 9 km from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Waterloo departs from Denver and takes around 4h 53m.

Car

Another option to get to Waterloo is to pick up a car rental from Minneapolis, which is about 286 km from Waterloo. You’ll find branches of Ace and Turo, 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 9 km from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Waterloo departs from Denver and takes around 4h 53m.

Car

Another option to get to Waterloo is to pick up a car rental from Minneapolis, which is about 286 km from Waterloo. You’ll find branches of Ace and Turo, 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

KLM
Good (1,430 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,616 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,562 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,010 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,041 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,676 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,430 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,066 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,502 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,506 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,594 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,334 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,405 reviews)
Avianca
Good (2,479 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,889 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (3,090 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (1,017 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,640 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,180 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,647 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 (8.5, 171 reviews)
$122+
View
Super 8 by Wyndham Cedar Falls IA - University
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, 562 reviews)
$65+
View
Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 417 reviews)
$52+
View
Comfort Suites
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, 246 reviews)
$89+
View
Hilton Garden Inn Cedar Falls
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 228 reviews)
$100+
View
Best Western Plus Waterloo & Cedar Falls
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 175 reviews)
$78+
View

Renting a car in Waterloo

Renting a car in Waterloo costs $67 per day, on average, or $201 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 42% cheaper than airport locations in Waterloo.

Expect to pay $3.41 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 $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Waterloo is Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Mitsubishi Mirage or similar) are, on average, 49% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Waterloo costs $67 per day, on average, or $201 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 42% cheaper than airport locations in Waterloo.

Expect to pay $3.41 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 $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Waterloo is Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Mitsubishi Mirage or similar) are, on average, 49% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Waterloo

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$39/day

Supplier choice

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$39/day

Economy
Find car rentals in Waterloo