Origin
Algona, IA
Late night in Algona on Wednesday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Algona, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 53m
Distance
191.9 mi
309 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 40m
★
6 AM
3h 53m
8 AM
4h 19m
10 AM
4h 2m
12 PM
4h 0m
3 PM
4h 3m
5 PM
4h 18m
8 PM
3h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Algona, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Algona, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 191.9 miles and takes about 3h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, Avenue of the Saints, Lincoln Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 103.2 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.00 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
95.9 miles from Algona, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Algona, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 191.9 miles and takes about 3h 53m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 103.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East McGregor Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 53m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East McGregor Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 169 / South Phillips Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East McGregor Street
Turn left onto East McGregor Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 169 / South Phillips Street
Turn right onto US 169 / South Phillips Street
Navigation decision point
5
44.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Turn left toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
6
147.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 3m in
|
I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
190.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 50m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 103.2 mi | 1h 59m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 42.3 mi | 45m |
| Lincoln Avenue | 30.1 mi | 41m |
| South Phillips Street | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| US Highway 169 | 4 mi | 5m |
| 13th Street South | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| 13th Street North | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| 32nd Street Northeast | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 103.2 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Algona, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on US 169
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Jones Street
2
Turn left onto East McGregor Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
East McGregor Street
3
Turn right onto US 169
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Phillips Street
4
Continue on US 169
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
US Highway 169
5
Continue on US 169
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
South Phillips Street
6
Continue on US 169
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
120th Avenue
7
Continue on US 169
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Lincoln Avenue
8
Continue on US 169
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
13th Street North
9
Continue on US 169
377 ft
·
8 sec
·
Lincoln Avenue
10
Continue on US 169
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
13th Street South
11
Continue on US 169
19 mi
·
25 min
·
Lincoln Avenue
12
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 20 East
13
Merge onto US 20
103 mi
·
1 hr 59 min
·
US 20
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
42 mi
·
45 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
16
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft
·
4 sec
17
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
32nd Street Northeast
18
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft
·
10 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
19
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft
·
7 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
20
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft
·
18 sec
·
Tiperary Drive Northeast
21
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 95.9 miles from Algona, IA, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.9 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Rapids, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Algona, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Algona, IA
This is one driving day of about 191.9 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Algona, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 103.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 95.9 mi from Algona, IA · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 95.9 miles from Algona, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.2 miles.
Arriving in Cedar Rapids, IA
The final approach into Cedar Rapids, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Cedar Rapids, IA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.00 one way
$60.00 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.94 | $65.88 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.93 | $73.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.37 | $84.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.6 | 0 | $20.15 | $9.21 |
| Efficient EV | 48 | 0 | $16.79 | $7.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.8 | 0 | $26.87 | $12.28 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
96 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 53m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Algona, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 191.9 miles and takes about 3h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, Avenue of the Saints, Lincoln Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 95.9 miles from Algona, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.00 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 53m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East McGregor Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 169 / South Phillips Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Algona, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Cedar Rapids, IA
More from Algona, IA
More trips to Cedar Rapids, IA
Explore more options from Algona, IA or browse trips ending in Cedar Rapids, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Algona, IA or Cedar Rapids, IA on MapSof.net.