Origin
Cedar Falls, IA
Late night in Cedar Falls on Saturday
Local time
4:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Falls, IA to Atlantic, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 52m
Distance
188.1 mi
303 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 40m
★
6 AM
3h 52m
8 AM
4h 18m
10 AM
4h 1m
12 PM
3h 59m
3 PM
4h 3m
5 PM
4h 17m
8 PM
3h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Atlantic, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Atlantic, IA covers 188.1 miles and takes about 3h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, IA 330, Sanford Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.9 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.41 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
94.1 miles from Cedar Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 188.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 52m highway drive covering 188.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and IA 330. The longest continuous stretch is about 67.9 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
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 67.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and IA 330. You will hit about 22 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 188.1 miles you will encounter 22 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.8 miles (University Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
University Avenue
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
7.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
96.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
|
US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
7
115.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 28m in
|
I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cedar Falls, IA and Atlantic, IA, road signs point toward Grundy Center and Audubon.
Grundy Center
18.8 mi in
|
~24m
Audubon
177.7 mi in
|
~3h 35m
|
via US 6
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 67.9 mi | 1h 13m |
| IA 330 | 35.9 mi | 42m |
| Sanford Avenue | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| US 65 | 13 mi | 15m |
| US 20 | 11.3 mi | 13m |
| 650th Street | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| 240th Street | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Marsh Avenue | 5.9 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 67.9 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls, IA and Atlantic, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
52 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
2
Continue on Main Street
61 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
3
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
104 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
4
Continue on Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
5
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
78 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
6
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Main Street
7
Turn right onto University Avenue
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
University Avenue
8
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
124 ft
·
2 sec
·
University Avenue
9
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
University Avenue
10
Continue on Grundy Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Grundy Road
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto US 20
11 mi
·
13 min
·
US 20
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
Toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
14
Turn left onto IA 14
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
15
Turn right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
16
Turn sharp left onto County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
17
Continue on M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
18
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
19
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
20
Turn right onto IA 330
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
21
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
22
Continue on IA 330
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
23
Turn right onto IA 330
36 mi
·
42 min
·
IA 330
24
Take the exit onto US 65
13 mi
·
15 min
·
US 65
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 80; I 35
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
62 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
I 80
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
US 6
Toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
28
Turn left onto US 6; US 71
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
650th Street
29
Turn right onto US 6; US 71
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
East 7th Street
30
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
266 ft
·
6 sec
·
Chestnut Street
31
Turn right
227 ft
·
16 sec
32
Arrive at destination
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 94.1 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.9 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 41 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.1 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atlantic, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cedar Falls, 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 Cedar Falls, IA
This is one driving day of about 188.1 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Cedar Falls, 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 67.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94.1 mi from Cedar Falls, IA · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
94 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 94.1 miles from Cedar Falls, 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 67.9 miles.
Arriving in Atlantic, IA
The final approach into Atlantic, 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 Atlantic, 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
$29.41 one way
$58.81 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.29 | $64.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.20 | $72.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.53 | $83.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.4 | 0 | $19.75 | $9.03 |
| Efficient EV | 47 | 0 | $16.46 | $7.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.2 | 0 | $26.33 | $12.04 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Atlantic, IA
Late night in Atlantic on Saturday
Local time
4:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Colfax, IA
94 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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 52m 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 Cedar Falls, IA to Atlantic, IA covers 188.1 miles and takes about 3h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, IA 330, Sanford Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 94.1 miles from Cedar Falls, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.41 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 188.1 miles you will encounter 22 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.8 miles (University Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Between Cedar Falls, IA and Atlantic, IA, road signs point toward Grundy Center and Audubon.
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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