Origin
Burlington, IA
Late night in Burlington on Saturday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burlington, IA to Cedar Falls, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 10m
Distance
164.6 mi
265 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 59m
★
6 AM
3h 11m
8 AM
3h 34m
10 AM
3h 19m
12 PM
3h 17m
3 PM
3h 20m
5 PM
3h 33m
8 PM
3h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burlington, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Burlington, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 164.6 miles and takes about 3h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, US 34, IA 58 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 131.7 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.73 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
82.3 miles from Burlington, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 164.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 10m drive with frequent turns across 164.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 131.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 164.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.1 miles (US 34; IA 163): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 159.5 miles (IA 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 34 West, IA 163 West
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 34 West, IA 163 West
5
27.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
US 34; IA 163
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163 toward US 218, IA 27 North: Iowa City, Fairfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218, IA 27 North: Iowa City, Fairfiel...
5
159.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 3m in
|
IA 27
Take the exit onto IA 27 toward IA 27, IA 58 North: Cedar Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 27, IA 58 North: Cedar Falls
5
159.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
163.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 9m in
Take the exit toward 18th Street, Waterloo Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 184
Toward 18th Street, Waterloo Road
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Burlington, IA to Cedar Falls, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Fairfield along the way.
Fairfield
27.1 mi in
|
~32m
|
via US 34; IA 163
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 131.7 mi | 2h 28m |
| US 34 | 26.9 mi | 32m |
| IA 58 | 4 mi | 5m |
| South Central Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Waterloo Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| IA 27 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Central Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 131.7 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, IA and Cedar Falls, IA.
1
Start on South Central Avenue
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
South Central Avenue
2
Continue on North Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Central Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward US 34 West, IA 163 West
4
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
26 mi
·
30 min
·
US 34; IA 163
5
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 34; IA 163
Toward US 218, IA 27 North: Iowa City, Fairfield
6
Merge onto US 34; US 218; IA 27; IA 163
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 218; IA 27
123 mi
·
2 hr 18 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit onto IA 27
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
IA 27
Toward IA 27, IA 58 North: Cedar Falls
10
Keep slight left at fork
260 ft
·
8 sec
11
Turn right onto IA 58
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
IA 58
Use the left lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 184
Toward 18th Street, Waterloo Road
13
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
this road
Toward Waterloo Road
14
Turn left onto Waterloo Road
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Waterloo Road
15
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
15 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
16
Continue on Main Street
21 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
Main Street
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 82.3 miles from Burlington, IA, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.7 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 36 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.3 miles or 1h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Falls, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burlington, 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 Burlington, IA
This is one driving day of about 164.6 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Burlington, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 131.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.3 mi from Burlington, IA · 1h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 82.3 miles from Burlington, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 131.7 miles.
Arriving in Cedar Falls, IA
The final approach into Cedar Falls, 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 Falls, 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
$25.73 one way
$51.47 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.25 | $56.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $31.68 | $63.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.34 | $72.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.4 | 0 | $17.28 | $7.90 |
| Efficient EV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.40 | $6.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.8 | 0 | $23.04 | $10.53 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Falls, IA
Late night in Cedar Falls on Saturday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
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
4 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 10m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Burlington, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 164.6 miles and takes about 3h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, US 34, IA 58. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 82.3 miles from Burlington, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.73 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 demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 164.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.1 miles (US 34; IA 163): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 159.5 miles (IA 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Burlington, IA to Cedar Falls, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Fairfield along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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