Origin
Cedar Falls, IA
Late night in Cedar Falls on Friday
Local time
12:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Falls, IA to Washington, IA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
56.3 mi
91 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Washington, IA
Paula Nardini
Trip Overview
The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Washington, IA covers 56.3 miles and takes about 1h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 210th Street, Avenue of the Saints, State Highway 3 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18 miles on 210th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.80 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 56.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (27%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 16m drive with frequent turns across 56.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
210th Street is the longest continuous segment at about 18 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Washington, IA is easy. At 1h 16m with 27% 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): Navigation decision point; near the start (Waterloo Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Continue onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Waterloo Road
Enter roundabout onto Waterloo Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward IA 27 north, IA 58 north
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 27 north, IA 58 north
3
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IA 27; IA 58 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto IA 27; IA 58 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
17.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
IA 3 / 230th Street
Turn left onto IA 3 / 230th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 210th Street | 18 mi | 24m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 16.4 mi | 19m |
| State Highway 3 | 15.1 mi | 20m |
| Central Avenue East | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| 230th Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| South Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Waterloo Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
210th Street
— 18 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls, IA and Washington, 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 Waterloo Road
179 ft
·
3 sec
·
Waterloo Road
4
Continue on Waterloo Road
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Waterloo Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward IA 27 north, IA 58 north
6
Merge onto IA 27; IA 58
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
8
Turn left onto IA 3
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
230th Street
9
Continue on IA 3
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 3
10
Continue on IA 3
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
210th Street
11
Continue on IA 3; IA 14
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 3
12
Continue on IA 3
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
210th Street
13
Continue on IA 3
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Street
14
Continue on IA 3
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
210th Street
15
Continue on IA 3
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 3
16
Continue on IA 3
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Central Avenue East
17
Continue on IA 3
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 3
18
Arrive at destination
IA 3
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.2 mi from Cedar Falls, IA · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.2 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Washington, IA
The final approach into Washington, 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
$8.80 one way
$17.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.66 | $19.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.83 | $21.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.43 | $24.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.93 | $2.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.88 | $3.60 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Washington, IA
Late night in Washington on Friday
Local time
12:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Waverly, IA
28 mi in
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
18 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
1h 16m 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 Washington, IA covers 56.3 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 210th Street, Avenue of the Saints, State Highway 3. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.2 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 $8.80 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.
The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Washington, IA is easy. At 1h 16m with 27% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (Waterloo Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Cedar Falls, IA to Washington, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Washington, IA
More trips to Washington, IA
Explore more options from Cedar Falls, IA or browse trips ending in Washington, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.