Origin
Cedar Falls, IA
Afternoon in Cedar Falls on Sunday
Local time
3:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Falls, IA to Centerville, IA
Drive Time
3h 38m
Distance
146.5 mi
236 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 26m
★
6 AM
3h 38m
8 AM
4h 3m
10 AM
3h 47m
12 PM
3h 45m
3 PM
3h 48m
5 PM
4h 2m
8 PM
3h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedar Falls, IA
Chris F
Centerville, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Centerville, IA covers 146.5 miles and takes about 3h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Main Street, University Avenue, Hudson Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.25 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
73.3 miles from Cedar Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 38m drive with frequent turns across 146.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Main Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Centerville, IA is easy. At 3h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Centerville, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| University Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hudson Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sergeant Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Hudson Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Q Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road D65 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls, IA and Centerville, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
52 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
2
Continue on Main Street
62 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Main Street
105 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
4
Exit the roundabout onto Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Main Street
79 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
6
Exit the roundabout onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Main Street
7
Turn right onto University Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
University Avenue
8
Turn left onto Hudson Road
7.9 mi
·
12 min
·
Hudson Road
9
Turn right onto Sergeant Road
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Sergeant Road
10
Continue on South Hudson Road
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
South Hudson Road
11
Continue on Q Avenue
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Q Avenue
12
Continue on County Road D65
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road D65
13
Continue on North Main Street
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
North Main Street
14
Turn left onto J Avenue
12 mi
·
17 min
·
J Avenue
15
Continue on North County Road
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North County Road
16
Continue on Harding Street
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Harding Street
17
Turn left onto West 13th Street
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
West 13th Street
18
Turn right onto State Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
State Street
19
Continue on J Avenue
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
J Avenue
20
Continue on 100th Street
8.0 mi
·
12 min
·
100th Street
21
Turn left onto 380th Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
380th Avenue
22
Turn right onto 120th Street
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
120th Street
23
Continue on Montezuma Street
22 mi
·
32 min
·
Montezuma Street
24
Turn left onto South Main Street
14 mi
·
22 min
·
South Main Street
25
Take the ramp straight
7.5 mi
·
9 min
26
Take the exit slight right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
27
Turn right onto State Highway 137
14 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 137
28
Continue on North Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
29
Turn straight onto South Clinton Street
21 mi
·
30 min
·
South Clinton Street
30
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Washington Street
31
Turn left onto North 13th Street
361 ft
·
16 sec
·
North 13th Street
32
Continue on North 13th Street
302 ft
·
14 sec
·
North 13th Street
33
Arrive at your destination
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 73.3 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
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 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.3 miles or 1h 49m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Centerville, 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 146.5 miles and 3h 38m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.3 mi from Cedar Falls, IA · 1h 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
73 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 73.3 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Centerville, IA
The final approach into Centerville, 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 Centerville, 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
$22.25 one way
$44.50 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $24.53 | $49.06 |
| premium | $4.80 | $27.66 | $55.31 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $32.55 | $65.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.9 | 0 | $15.38 | $7.03 |
| Efficient EV | 36.6 | 0 | $12.82 | $5.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.6 | 0 | $20.51 | $9.38 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Centerville, IA
Afternoon in Centerville on Sunday
Local time
3:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
44°F
Indiana, IA
73 mi in
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
1 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 38m 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 Centerville, IA covers 146.5 miles and takes about 3h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Main Street, University Avenue, Hudson Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.3 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 $22.25 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 Centerville, IA is easy. At 3h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Centerville, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cedar Falls, IA to Centerville, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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