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Trip from Belmond, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 23m

Distance

148.4 mi

239 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 14m ★
6 AM
2h 23m
8 AM
2h 43m
10 AM
2h 30m
12 PM
2h 28m
3 PM
2h 31m
5 PM
2h 42m
8 PM
2h 18m

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

Downtown Belmond, IA, IA

Belmond, IA

Uiliam Nörnberg

Trip Overview

The drive from Belmond, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 148.4 miles and takes about 2h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East Main Street, River Avenue South, US 20 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.20 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.

Midpoint

74.2 miles from Belmond, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 148.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 23m drive with frequent turns across 148.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Main Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Belmond, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is easy. At 2h 23m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Belmond, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Main Street
River Avenue South
US 20 East
Avenue of the Saints
32nd Street Northeast
Crystal Drive Northeast
Tiperary Drive Northeast

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: East Main Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 2nd Avenue Northeast

62 ft · 5 sec · 2nd Avenue Northeast
2

Turn right onto East Main Street

0.1 mi · 38 sec · East Main Street
3

Turn left onto River Avenue South

8.8 mi · 12 min · River Avenue South
4

Turn left

20 mi · 27 min
5

Take the ramp left toward US 20 East

0.4 mi · 46 sec · US 20 East
6

Merge slight left

75 mi · 1 hr 27 min
7

Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints

42 mi · 45 min · Avenue of the Saints
8

Take the exit slight right

0.3 mi · 34 sec
9

Keep slight left

121 ft · 5 sec
10

Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast

1.3 mi · 2 min · 32nd Street Northeast
11

Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast

184 ft · 10 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast
12

Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast

177 ft · 8 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast
13

Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast

427 ft · 19 sec · Tiperary Drive Northeast
14

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 74.2 miles from Belmond, IA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.

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 33 miles or 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 74.2 miles or 1h 11m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 57m

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 Belmond, 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 Belmond, IA

This is one driving day of about 148.4 miles and 2h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Belmond, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 74.2 mi from Belmond, IA · 1h 11m into the drive

city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waterloo, IA

74 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

Iowa Falls, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waterloo, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 74.2 miles from Belmond, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.20 one way

$46.40 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $25.47 $50.95
premium $4.89 $28.56 $57.12
diesel $5.61 $32.76 $65.53

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44.5 0 $15.58 $7.12
Efficient EV 37.1 0 $12.99 $5.94
EV Truck/SUV 59.4 0 $20.78 $9.50

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 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 15, 2026

Origin

Belmond, IA

Afternoon in Belmond on Thursday

Local time

12:51 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cedar Rapids, IA

Afternoon in Cedar Rapids on Thursday

Local time

12:51 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

68°F

Waterloo, IA

74 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

2 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

2h 23m 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 Belmond, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 148.4 miles and takes about 2h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Main Street, River Avenue South, US 20 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.2 miles from Belmond, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.20 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.
The drive from Belmond, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is easy. At 2h 23m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Belmond, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Belmond, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Cedar Rapids, IA to Belmond, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

148.4 mi 2h 57m

Explore more options from Belmond, IA or browse trips ending in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.

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