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Trip from Atkins, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

26m

Distance

17.9 mi

29 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 24m ★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Atkins, IA, IA

Atkins, IA

Tara Winstead

Trip Overview

This quick 17.9-mile drive from Atkins, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA takes approximately 26 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate via IA 100, 73rd Street, and 33rd Avenue, with about 46% of the route on highways. The estimated fuel cost is a very manageable $3. Given the short distance and duration, no overnight stay is necessary; you can easily complete this journey in a single day. The drive is a mixed-use route, offering a straightforward commute within the Midwest region of Iowa.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 17.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a mixed drive on this route, with nearly half of your journey, around 46%, taking place on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 8.3 miles along IA 100. This route isn't a monotonous interstate cruise but rather a blend of faster highway sections and local road segments. As you progress, the character of the drive will likely shift between these different road types, offering a varied experience behind the wheel.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IA 100 is the longest continuous segment at about 8.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 17.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
5.8 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the exit toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
5
15.1 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
7
15.3 mi into trip | ~20m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
7
15.4 mi into trip | ~21m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
5
16.5 mi into trip | ~22m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Atkins, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Marion and Waterloo.

Marion

5.8 mi in | ~9m

Waterloo

15.1 mi in | ~20m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
IA 100 8.3 mi 9m
73rd Street 3.1 mi 3m
33rd Avenue 2 mi 3m
32nd Street Northeast 1.3 mi 2m
Avenue of the Saints 0.5 mi <1m
Park Ridge Road 0.4 mi <1m
Main Avenue 0.3 mi 1m
Tiperary Drive Northeast <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: IA 100 — 8.3 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Atkins, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.

1

Start on Main Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · Main Avenue
2

Turn left onto CR E44

0.4 mi · 43 sec · Park Ridge Road
3

Continue on CR W28

2.0 mi · 3 min · 33rd Avenue
4

Turn left onto US 30; US 218

3.1 mi · 3 min · 73rd Street
5

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
6

Continue on IA 100

8.3 mi · 9 min · IA 100
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
10

Merge onto I 380; IA 27

0.5 mi · 38 sec · Avenue of the Saints
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
12

Keep slight left at fork

121 ft · 4 sec
13

Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast

1.3 mi · 2 min · 32nd Street Northeast
14

Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast

184 ft · 10 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast
15

Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast

177 ft · 7 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast
16

Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast

428 ft · 18 sec · Tiperary Drive Northeast
17

Arrive at destination

Tiperary Drive Northeast

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.80 one way

$5.60 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $3.07 $6.15
premium $4.89 $3.44 $6.89
diesel $5.61 $3.95 $7.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.4 0 $1.88 $0.86
Efficient EV 4.5 0 $1.57 $0.72
EV Truck/SUV 7.2 0 $2.51 $1.15

Gas CO2

6 kg

EV CO2

2 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Atkins, IA

Night in Atkins on Thursday

Local time

9:37 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cedar Rapids, IA

Night in Cedar Rapids on Thursday

Local time

9:37 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

26m 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 Atkins, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 17.9 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IA 100, 73rd Street, 33rd Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9 miles from Atkins, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.80 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 17.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Atkins, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Marion and Waterloo.

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