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. Waterloo deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

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 5 miles 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 178 miles 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 5 miles 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 178 miles 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

Lufthansa
Good (7,207 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,367 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,091 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,982 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,820 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,865 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,473 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,287 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,594 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,680 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,416 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,352 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,306 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,144 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (3,285 reviews)
Avianca
Good (2,363 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (893 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,101 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,505 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,805 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Waterloo

Where to stay in Waterloo

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hampton Inn Waterloo 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 Cedar Falls Downtown
2 stars
Excellent (8.5, 159 reviews)
$147+
View
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Cedar Falls, IA
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, 560 reviews)
$106+
View
Super 8 by Wyndham Cedar Falls IA - University
2 stars
Excellent (8, 526 reviews)
$78+
View
Comfort Suites Cedar Falls
2 stars
Excellent (8, 229 reviews)
$107+
View
Hilton Garden Inn Cedar Falls
3 stars
Excellent (8, 223 reviews)
$120+
View
Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo
3 stars
Good (7.9, 384 reviews)
$98+
View

Renting a car in Waterloo

Renting a car in Waterloo costs $76 per day, on average, or $153 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 12% cheaper than airport locations in Waterloo.

Expect to pay $3.56 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 $42.70 and $56.93. The most frequently booked car type in Waterloo is Full-size (Ford Transit or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Toyota Corolla or similar) are, on average, 51% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Waterloo costs $76 per day, on average, or $153 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 12% cheaper than airport locations in Waterloo.

Expect to pay $3.56 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 $42.70 and $56.93. The most frequently booked car type in Waterloo is Full-size (Ford Transit or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Toyota Corolla or similar) are, on average, 51% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Waterloo

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$55/day

Economy

Intermediate

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$55/day

Intermediate
Find car rentals in Waterloo

Waterloo Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Waterloo city guide for the best Waterloo travel tips. To help you organize your Waterloo trip ideas, this Waterloo visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.