Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Afternoon in Cedar Rapids on Sunday
Local time
2:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Carlisle, IA
Drive Time
2h 31m
Distance
125.3 mi
202 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
Trip Overview
The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Carlisle, IA covers 125.3 miles and takes about 2h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Crystal Drive Northeast, 32nd Street Northeast, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.03 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
62.7 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 31m drive with frequent turns across 125.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Crystal Drive Northeast 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 Rapids, IA to Carlisle, IA is easy. At 2h 31m 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 Rapids, IA to Carlisle, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Drive Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 32nd Street Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Avenue of the Saints | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IA 100 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-380 north | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-380 south | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Collins Road Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 30 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Crystal Drive Northeast
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Carlisle, IA.
1
Start on Tiperary Drive Northeast
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Tiperary Drive Northeast
2
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft
·
13 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
3
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
32nd Street Northeast
4
Take the ramp right
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
5
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
Avenue of the Saints
6
Take the exit slight right toward IA 100
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
IA 100
7
Keep slight left to continue on I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 west: Waterloo
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 west: Waterloo
8
Turn left onto I-380 south, IA 27 south, IA 100 west: Iowa City
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
I-380 south, IA 27 south, IA 100 west: Iowa City
9
Merge slight left onto Collins Road Northeast
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Collins Road Northeast
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
11
Merge slight left onto 16th Avenue Southwest
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Avenue Southwest
12
Continue on 73rd Street
24 mi
·
28 min
·
73rd Street
13
Continue on Lincoln Highway
37 mi
·
43 min
·
Lincoln Highway
14
Take the exit slight right toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
15
Turn left onto Marshalltown Boulevard
34 mi
·
39 min
·
Marshalltown Boulevard
16
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
17
Continue on Hubbell Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Hubbell Avenue
18
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
19
Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
20
Take the exit slight right toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 5 South: Carlisle
21
Continue straight
1.9 mi
·
2 min
22
Turn left onto South 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South 5th Street
23
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 62.7 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 1h 15m 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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.7 miles or 1h 15m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carlisle, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cedar Rapids, 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 Rapids, IA
This is one driving day of about 125.3 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cedar Rapids, 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 62.7 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA · 1h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 62.7 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carlisle, IA
The final approach into Carlisle, 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 Carlisle, 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
$19.03 one way
$38.06 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $20.98 | $41.96 |
| premium | $4.80 | $23.65 | $47.31 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $27.84 | $55.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.6 | 0 | $13.16 | $6.01 |
| Efficient EV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.96 | $5.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.1 | 0 | $17.54 | $8.02 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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
Carlisle, IA
Afternoon in Carlisle on Sunday
Local time
2:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
9 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 31m 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 Rapids, IA to Carlisle, IA covers 125.3 miles and takes about 2h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Crystal Drive Northeast, 32nd Street Northeast, Avenue of the Saints. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.7 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.03 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 Rapids, IA to Carlisle, IA is easy. At 2h 31m 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 Rapids, IA to Carlisle, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cedar Rapids, IA to Carlisle, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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