Origin
Carlisle, IA
Afternoon in Carlisle on Wednesday
Local time
4:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carlisle, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 30m
Distance
124.5 mi
200 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 21m
★
6 AM
2h 31m
8 AM
2h 51m
10 AM
2h 38m
12 PM
2h 36m
3 PM
2h 39m
5 PM
2h 50m
8 PM
2h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carlisle, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
The drive from Carlisle, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 124.5 miles and takes about 2h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, 73rd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37 miles on Lincoln Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.46 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
62.2 miles from Carlisle, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 30m drive with frequent turns across 124.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lincoln Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 37 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 11.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 124.5 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 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 121.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
11.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
5
112.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m 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
121.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m 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
121.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m 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
122 mi into trip
|
~2h 26m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Carlisle, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Altoona and Marion.
Altoona
11.6 mi in
|
~14m
Marion
112.4 mi in
|
~2h 14m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Highway | 37 mi | 42m |
| Northeast Hubbell Road | 33.5 mi | 39m |
| 73rd Street | 26.8 mi | 30m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| IA 100 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| IA 5 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| 32nd Street Northeast | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Hubbell Avenue | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 37 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carlisle, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on North 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North 5th Street
2
Turn right onto IA 5
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 5
3
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
4
Merge onto US 65
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
6
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
this road
7
Turn right onto US 6
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Hubbell Avenue
8
Continue on US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
9
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi
·
39 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
11
Merge onto US 30
37 mi
·
42 min
·
Lincoln Highway
12
Continue on US 30
27 mi
·
30 min
·
73rd Street
13
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
14
Continue on IA 100
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
IA 100
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
18
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
Avenue of the Saints
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
20
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft
·
4 sec
21
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
32nd Street Northeast
22
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft
·
10 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
23
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft
·
7 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
24
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft
·
18 sec
·
Tiperary Drive Northeast
25
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.2 miles from Carlisle, IA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37 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 27 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.2 miles or 1h 16m 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 2m
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 Carlisle, 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 Carlisle, IA
This is one driving day of about 124.5 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Carlisle, 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 Lincoln Highway for about 37 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.2 mi from Carlisle, IA · 1h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 62.2 miles from Carlisle, 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
$19.46 one way
$38.93 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.37 | $42.74 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.96 | $47.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.49 | $54.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.4 | 0 | $13.07 | $5.98 |
| Efficient EV | 31.1 | 0 | $10.89 | $4.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.8 | 0 | $17.43 | $7.97 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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
Afternoon in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday
Local time
4:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 15 mph
27% 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
23 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 30m 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 Carlisle, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 124.5 miles and takes about 2h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, 73rd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.2 miles from Carlisle, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.46 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.
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 16 significant decision points across 124.5 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 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 121.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Carlisle, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Altoona and Marion.
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 Carlisle, IA
More trips to Cedar Rapids, IA
Explore more options from Carlisle, IA or browse trips ending in Cedar Rapids, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Carlisle, IA or Cedar Rapids, IA on MapSof.net.