Origin
Cedar Falls, IA
Afternoon in Cedar Falls on Friday
Local time
2:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
77.4 mi
125 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Anamosa, IA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Anamosa, IA covers 77.4 miles and takes about 1h 36m 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, County Home Road, IA 27 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40.2 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.10 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
38.7 miles from Cedar Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 77.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 1h 36m drive with frequent turns across 77.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 36m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.4 miles (East 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
At end of road, turn straight onto East 18th Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward IA 27 south, IA 58 south
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto IA 27 toward US 20 East, IA 27 South: Dubuque, Cedar Rapids
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cedar Falls, IA and Anamosa, IA, road signs point toward Cedar Rapids, Cr E34: Toddville and Robins.
Cedar Rapids
Cr E34: Toddville
Robins
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 40.2 mi | 44m |
| County Home Road | 16.6 mi | 22m |
| IA 27 | 12.8 mi | 15m |
| Fairview Road | 3 mi | 5m |
| County Road E34 | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Elm Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls, IA and Anamosa, IA.
Start on Main Street
Continue on Main Street
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
Continue on Main Street
Turn left onto West 18th Street
At end of road, turn straight onto East 18th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto IA 27; IA 58
Turn left onto IA 27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
Take the exit
Turn sharp left onto CR E34
Enter roundabout onto County Home Road
Continue on County Home Road
Enter roundabout onto CR E34
Continue on CR E34
Continue on CR E34
At end of road, turn left onto CR E34
Continue on CR E34
Turn left onto Cemetery Road
Turn right onto CR E34
At end of road, turn right onto CR E28
Arrive at destination
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.
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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.7 miles or 44m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anamosa, IA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Cedar Falls, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cedar Falls, IA
This is one driving day of about 77.4 miles and 1h 36m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.7 mi from Cedar Falls, IA · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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.
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 38.7 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Anamosa, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$12.10 one way
$24.20 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.29 | $26.57 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.89 | $29.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.09 | $34.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.13 | $3.72 |
| Efficient EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.77 | $3.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31 | 0 | $10.84 | $4.95 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Cedar Falls on Friday
Local time
2:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Anamosa on Friday
Local time
2:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
49°F
Vinton, IA
39 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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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