Origin
Cedar Falls, IA
Late night in Cedar Falls on Wednesday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Falls, IA to Spencer, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 55m
Distance
190.4 mi
306 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 43m
★
6 AM
3h 56m
8 AM
4h 21m
10 AM
4h 5m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 20m
8 PM
3h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Spencer, IA
Jonas Horsch
Trip Overview
The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Spencer, IA covers 190.4 miles and takes about 3h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, US 71, University Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 135.5 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.77 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
95.2 miles from Cedar Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 55m highway drive covering 190.4 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and US 71. The longest continuous stretch is about 135.5 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 135.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and US 71. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Spencer, IA is easy. At 3h 55m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 13 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.
5
143 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
|
US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm...
5
143.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
|
US 71
Turn right onto US 71
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
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 Spencer, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Storm Lake along the way.
Storm Lake
143 mi in
|
~2h 48m
|
via US 71
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 135.5 mi | 2h 36m |
| US 71 | 45.6 mi | 1h 3m |
| University Avenue | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Main Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Grundy Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 11th Street Southwest | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Grand Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 4th Avenue Southwest | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 135.5 mi, about 2h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls, IA and Spencer, 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
136 mi
·
2 hr 36 min
·
US 20
13
Take the exit onto US 71
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 71
Toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm Lake
14
Turn right onto US 71
45 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
US 71
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto US 71
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
11th Street Southwest
16
Turn left onto 4th Avenue Southwest
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
4th Avenue Southwest
17
At end of road, turn right onto 4th Street Southwest
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
4th Street Southwest
18
Turn left onto US 18; US 71
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Grand Avenue
19
Turn right onto East 4th Street
70 ft
·
1 sec
·
East 4th Street
20
Arrive at destination
East 4th Street
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 95.2 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135.5 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.2 miles or 1h 52m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spencer, 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 190.4 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 US 20 for about 135.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 95.2 mi from Cedar Falls, IA · 1h 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 95.2 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 US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 135.5 miles.
Arriving in Spencer, IA
The final approach into Spencer, 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 Spencer, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.77 one way
$59.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.68 | $65.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.64 | $73.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.04 | $84.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.6 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 | 57.1 | 0 | $19.99 | $9.14 |
| Efficient EV | 47.6 | 0 | $16.66 | $7.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.2 | 0 | $26.66 | $12.19 |
Gas CO2
67 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
Spencer, IA
Late night in Spencer on Wednesday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°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
4 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
3h 55m 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 Spencer, IA covers 190.4 miles and takes about 3h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, US 71, University 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 95.2 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 $29.77 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.
The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Spencer, IA is easy. At 3h 55m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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.
On the drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Spencer, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Storm Lake along the way.
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