Origin
Carter Lake, IA
Afternoon in Carter Lake on Monday
Local time
3:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carter Lake, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA
Drive Time
4h 59m
Distance
258.4 mi
416 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 46m
★
6 AM
5h 0m
8 AM
5h 27m
10 AM
5h 9m
12 PM
5h 6m
3 PM
5h 10m
5 PM
5h 25m
8 PM
4h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carter Lake, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Carter Lake, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 258.4 miles and takes about 4h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 137.1 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.25 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
129.2 miles from Carter Lake, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Carter Lake, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 258.4 miles and takes about 4h 59m, 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 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 137.1 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 2.3 miles in near North 14th Street.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 258.4 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 2.3 miles (North 14th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 128 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
2.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
North 14th Street
At end of road, turn left onto North 14th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
128 mi into trip
|
~2h 23m in
|
I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
8
147 mi into trip
|
~2h 45m in
|
US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
7
255.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 54m 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
256 mi into trip
|
~4h 54m 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 Along This Route
Between Carter Lake, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City and Bondurant.
Minneapolis
128 mi in
|
~2h 23m
|
via I 80
Kansas City
128 mi in
|
~2h 23m
|
via I 80
Bondurant
147 mi in
|
~2h 45m
|
via US 65
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 137.1 mi | 2h 28m |
| Lincoln Highway | 37 mi | 42m |
| Northeast Hubbell Road | 33.5 mi | 39m |
| 73rd Street | 26.8 mi | 30m |
| IA 100 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| US 6 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| 32nd Street Northeast | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Northeast Hubbell Avenue | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 137.1 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carter Lake, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on North 9th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North 9th Street
2
Turn right onto East Locust Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Locust Street
3
Turn left onto North 11th Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North 11th Street
4
Continue on Izard Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Izard Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto North 14th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North 14th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 480 East
7
Merge onto I 480
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Gerald R Ford Expressway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 6
Toward I 29 South: Kansas City
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto I 80 Local; US 6
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 Local; US 6
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 80; US 6
118 mi
·
2 hr 6 min
·
I 80; US 6
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi
·
16 min
·
I 80
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 80
Use the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 65
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
16
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi
·
39 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
18
Merge onto US 30
37 mi
·
42 min
·
Lincoln Highway
19
Continue on US 30
27 mi
·
30 min
·
73rd Street
20
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
21
Continue on IA 100
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
IA 100
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
25
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
Avenue of the Saints
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
27
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft
·
4 sec
28
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
32nd Street Northeast
29
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft
·
10 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
30
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft
·
7 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
31
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft
·
18 sec
·
Tiperary Drive Northeast
32
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 129.2 miles from Carter Lake, IA, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.1 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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.2 miles or 2h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 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 Carter Lake, 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 Carter Lake, IA
This is one driving day of about 258.4 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Carter Lake, 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 I 80 for about 137.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 129.2 mi from Carter Lake, IA · 2h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
129 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 129.2 miles from Carter Lake, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 137.1 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
$39.25 one way
$78.50 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $43.27 | $86.53 |
| premium | $4.80 | $48.78 | $97.56 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $57.41 | $114.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.5 | 0 | $27.13 | $12.40 |
| Efficient EV | 64.6 | 0 | $22.61 | $10.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.4 | 1 | $36.18 | $16.54 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Monday
Local time
3:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 15 mph
27% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:22AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:22AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
26 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
4h 59m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Carter Lake, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 258.4 miles and takes about 4h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 129.2 miles from Carter Lake, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.25 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 258.4 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 2.3 miles (North 14th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 128 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Carter Lake, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City and Bondurant.
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