Origin
Cedar Falls, IA
Late night in Cedar Falls on Saturday
Local time
3:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Falls, IA to Boone, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 11m
Distance
110.6 mi
178 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 2m
★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 29m
8 PM
2h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Boone, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Boone, IA covers 110.6 miles and takes about 2h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, I 35, I 35 Business for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.3 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.29 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
55.3 miles from Cedar Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 110.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 11m highway drive covering 110.6 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and I 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 54.3 miles on US 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 54.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 11m drive. You will face about 11 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 0.8 miles (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.8 miles (University Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m 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.
6
61.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 54.3 mi | 1h 2m |
| I 35 | 30.5 mi | 32m |
| I 35 Business | 11 mi | 12m |
| University Avenue | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Mamie Eisenhower Avenue | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| 210th Street | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| T Avenue | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 54.3 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls, IA and Boone, 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
54 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
US 20
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 35
30 mi
·
32 min
·
I 35
15
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
2 min
Toward US 30 West: Ames
16
Continue on I 35 Business; US 30
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 35 Business; US 30
17
Turn slight right onto T Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
T Avenue
18
Turn left onto CR E41
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
210th Street
19
Continue on Mamie Eisenhower Avenue
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Mamie Eisenhower Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Mamie Eisenhower Avenue
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.3 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.3 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 24 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.3 miles or 1h 6m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boone, 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 110.6 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Cedar Falls, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 54.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.3 mi from Cedar Falls, IA · 1h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.3 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Boone, IA
The final approach into Boone, 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 Boone, 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
$17.29 one way
$34.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.98 | $37.97 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.28 | $42.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.42 | $48.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.2 | 0 | $11.61 | $5.31 |
| Efficient EV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.68 | $4.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.2 | 0 | $15.48 | $7.08 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Boone, IA
Late night in Boone on Saturday
Local time
3:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 17 mph
5% 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
16 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
2h 11m 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 Cedar Falls, IA to Boone, IA covers 110.6 miles and takes about 2h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, I 35, I 35 Business. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.3 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 $17.29 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.
This is a straightforward 2h 11m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.8 miles (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.8 miles (University Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Cedar Falls, IA to Boone, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Boone, IA
More trips to Boone, IA
Explore more options from Cedar Falls, IA or browse trips ending in Boone, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.