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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

Unknown

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.

city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

Cedar Falls, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Henry County, Iowa, United States

Mount Pleasant, IA

Wikimedia Commons

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 Main Street, West 18th Street, East 18th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. 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 (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

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.
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.

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 Mount Pleasant, IA is easy. At 2h 39m 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 Mount Pleasant, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Main Street
West 18th Street
East 18th Street
IA 27
Avenue of the Saints
US 20 East
Iowa Avenue
North Broadway Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Main Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

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

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

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Main Street
5

Turn left onto West 18th Street

39 ft · 3 sec · West 18th Street
6

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

0.2 mi · 23 sec · East 18th Street
7

Take the ramp right toward IA 27 south, IA 58 south

0.2 mi · 31 sec · IA 27 south, IA 58 south
8

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

4.1 mi · 5 min · Avenue of the Saints
9

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

13 mi · 15 min · US 20 East, IA 27 South: Dubuque, Cedar Rapids
10

Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints

115 mi · 2 hr 9 min · Avenue of the Saints
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 · 39 sec · West Warren Street
15

Turn left onto South White Street

59 ft · 3 sec · South White Street
16

Arrive at your destination

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.

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 35m 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 10m

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.

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

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 Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.8 0 $14.29 $6.53
Efficient EV 34 0 $11.91 $5.44
EV Truck/SUV 54.4 0 $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

6:58 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mount Pleasant, IA

Morning in Mount Pleasant on Saturday

Local time

6:58 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 Main Street, West 18th Street, East 18th Street. 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.

The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA is easy. At 2h 39m 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 Mount Pleasant, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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