Trip from Cedar Falls, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 39m

Distance

136.1 mi

219 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min

4 AM

2h 29m ★

6 AM

2h 39m

8 AM

3h 0m

10 AM

2h 47m

12 PM

2h 45m

3 PM

2h 48m

5 PM

2h 59m

8 PM

2h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA covers 136.1 miles and takes about 2h 39m 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, IA 27, Iowa Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 119.1 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.28 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

68.1 miles from Cedar Falls, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 39m. Total distance: 136.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (9%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 39m drive with frequent turns across 136.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 119.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

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 39m drive. You will face about 10 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These 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

0.4 mi into trip | ~0m in | East 18th Street

At end of road, turn straight onto East 18th Street

Navigation decision point

8

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward IA 27 south, IA 58 south

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward IA 27 south, IA 58 south

5

4.9 mi into trip | ~7m in | IA 27

Turn left onto IA 27 toward US 20 East, IA 27 South: Dubuque, Cedar Rapids

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 20 East, IA 27 South: Dubuque, Cedar...

6

17.7 mi into trip | ~22m in | I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints

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

Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Avenue of the Saints	119.1 mi	2h 15m
IA 27	12.8 mi	15m
Iowa Avenue	1.5 mi	2m
North Broadway Street	1.3 mi	3m
North Jefferson Street	0.4 mi	1m
Main Street	0.4 mi	<1m
East 18th Street	0.2 mi	<1m
West Warren Street	0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 119.1 mi, about 2h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls, IA and Mount Pleasant, 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

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Main Street

5

Turn left onto West 18th Street

40 ft · 3 sec · West 18th Street

6

At end of road, turn straight onto East 18th Street

0.2 mi · 22 sec · East 18th Street

7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Toward IA 27 south, IA 58 south Use the right lane.

8

Merge onto IA 27; IA 58

4.1 mi · 5 min · Avenue of the Saints

9

Turn left onto IA 27

13 mi · 15 min · IA 27

Toward US 20 East, IA 27 South: Dubuque, Cedar Rapids

10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27

115 mi · 2 hr 9 min · Avenue of the Saints

Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids

11

Turn right onto Iowa Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · Iowa Avenue

12

Continue on North Broadway Street

1.3 mi · 3 min · North Broadway Street

13

Continue on North Jefferson Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Jefferson Street

14

Turn right onto West Warren Street

0.1 mi · 38 sec · West Warren Street

15

Turn left onto South White Street

58 ft · 2 sec · South White Street

16

Arrive at destination

South White Street

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 68.1 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, or about 1h 19m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.1 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 30 miles or 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 68.1 miles or 1h 19m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 8m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Pleasant, 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 136.1 miles and 2h 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 119.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 68.1 mi from Cedar Falls, IA · 1h 19m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cedar Rapids, IA

68 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

Elk Run Heights, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cedar Rapids, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68.1 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Mount Pleasant, IA

The final approach into Mount Pleasant, 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 Mount Pleasant, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Oscar's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hiawatha, Iowa

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 58.3

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13193788885

Visit website

Pad Thai Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Mt Pleasant, Iowa

0.3 mi

Exotic India

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Iowa City, Iowa

0.6 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Sidekick Coffee & Books

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 87.5

Hours: 7:30 am–5 pm

+13195691010

Visit website

DAYDRINK

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

2.8 mi

Kindred Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

2.9 mi

Oscar's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 58.3

Hiawatha, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13193788885

Visit website

Pad Thai Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 136.1

Mt Pleasant, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–1:30 pm

+13193858520

Visit website

Exotic India

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately mile 87.5

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11:15 am–2:25 pm

+13193544710

Visit website

Scott's Family Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 58.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+13195504517

Visit website

Java House Coffee Roasters - Mormon Trek

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 87.5

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+13198871215

Visit website

Yummy Banh Mi and Boba Tea, Coffee

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 58.3

Hiawatha, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+13192004254

Visit website

Stack Wellness Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 58.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+13192005582

Paradise Indian Grill - Cedar Rapids

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 58.3

Hiawatha, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13193182070

Visit website

Sidekick Coffee & Books

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 87.5

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 7:30 am–5 pm

+13195691010

Visit website

DAYDRINK

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 87.5

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

Visit website

Kindred Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour Moderately mile 87.5

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

Visit website

The Filling Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 87.5

Iowa City, Iowa

+13193357510

Visit website

The Black Angel Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $20 to $30 mile 87.5

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+13193591848

Visit website

EMRB Café

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 87.5

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 7:30 am–4 pm

+13193357126

Visit website

Power Café

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 87.5

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+13193843427

Visit website

Zoetic Coffee- Iowa City

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 87.5

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+13196403063

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 9.7

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 58.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 87.5

Iowa City, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 87.5

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 48.6

Center Point, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.2 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 9.7

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+31880109500

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

2.4 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 77.8

North Liberty, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 87.5

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+31880109500

Visit website

Field Day Brewing Co.

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 77.8

North Liberty, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+13192082154

Visit website

Bistro at Blooms

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 58.3

Marion, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–2:30 pm

+13194499996

Visit website

Caramelcorn Shoppe/Smoothie Stop

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 87.5

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+13196255568

Barrel House

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 77.8

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13196262550

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.28 one way

$42.56 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$23.36	$46.72
premium	$4.89	$26.19	$52.38
diesel	$5.61	$30.05	$60.10

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	40.8	$14.29	$6.53
Efficient EV	34	$11.91	$5.44
EV Truck/SUV	54.4	$19.05	$8.71

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Cedar Falls, IA

Morning in Cedar Falls on Saturday

Local time

8:51 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mount Pleasant, IA

Morning in Mount Pleasant on Saturday

Local time

8:51 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

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

24 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

2h 39m 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 Mount Pleasant, IA covers 136.1 miles and takes about 2h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, IA 27, Iowa Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 68.1 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 $21.28 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 2h 39m drive. You will face about 10 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 0.4 miles (East 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

The route from Cedar Falls, IA to Mount Pleasant, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Cedar Falls, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Mount Pleasant, IA

Nearby Places

Oscar's Restaurant

Sidekick Coffee & Books

Oscar's Restaurant

Pad Thai Restaurant

Exotic India

Scott's Family Restaurant

Java House Coffee Roasters - Mormon Trek

Yummy Banh Mi and Boba Tea, Coffee

Stack Wellness Cafe

Paradise Indian Grill - Cedar Rapids

Sidekick Coffee & Books

DAYDRINK

Kindred Coffee

The Filling Station

The Black Angel Restaurant

EMRB Café

Power Café

Zoetic Coffee- Iowa City

Tesla Supercharger

Blink Charging Station

EV Connect Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Blink Charging Station

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Field Day Brewing Co.

Bistro at Blooms

Caramelcorn Shoppe/Smoothie Stop

Barrel House

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Cedar Falls, IA

Mount Pleasant, IA

Same local time

24 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 39m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Cedar Falls, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How many breaks should I plan?

How hard is the drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Cedar Falls, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA?

How this page is built

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