Origin
Cedar Falls, IA
Late night in Cedar Falls on Friday
Local time
12:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Falls, IA to Iowa Falls, IA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
51.7 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Iowa Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Iowa Falls, IA covers 51.7 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, University Avenue, US 65 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.1 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.08 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 51.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 6m highway drive covering 51.7 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and University Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 38.1 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 17 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 38.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and University Avenue. 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 1h 6m 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.
5
45.6 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward US 65: Iowa Falls, Hubbard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 65: Iowa Falls, Hubbard
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Iowa Falls, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Hubbard along the way.
Hubbard
45.6 mi in
|
~55m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 38.1 mi | 43m |
| University Avenue | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| US 65 | 5 mi | 8m |
| Main Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Grundy Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Rocksylvania Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Commercial Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 38.1 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls, IA and Iowa Falls, 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
38 mi
·
43 min
·
US 20
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward US 65: Iowa Falls, Hubbard
14
Turn right onto US 65
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
US 65
15
Turn right onto Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Rocksylvania Avenue
16
Turn left onto Commercial Street
331 ft
·
9 sec
·
Commercial Street
17
Arrive at destination
Commercial Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.8 mi from Cedar Falls, IA · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.8 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Iowa Falls, IA
The final approach into Iowa Falls, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.08 one way
$16.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.87 | $17.75 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.95 | $19.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.41 | $22.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
| Efficient EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.24 | $3.31 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Iowa Falls, IA
Late night in Iowa Falls on Friday
Local time
12:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 6m 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 Iowa Falls, IA covers 51.7 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, University Avenue, US 65. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.8 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 $8.08 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 1h 6m 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.
On the drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Iowa Falls, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Hubbard along the way.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Iowa Falls, IA
More trips to Iowa Falls, IA
Explore more options from Cedar Falls, IA or browse trips ending in Iowa Falls, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.