Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Carter Lake, IA

Drive Time

4h 58m

Distance

257.8 mi

415 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Photo: Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Carter Lake, IA covers 257.8 miles and takes about 4h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 80, Lincoln Highway, Marshalltown Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 124.8 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.16 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

128.9 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Carter Lake, IA covers 257.8 miles and takes about 4h 58m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 124.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 257.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.6 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129.1 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 23 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

2.4 mi into trip | ~4m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 west: Waterloo

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 west: W...

110.6 mi into trip | ~2h 11m in | US 65

Take the exit onto US 65 toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none lane. Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

129.1 mi into trip | ~2h 33m in | I 80

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 80 West: Omaha

224.7 mi into trip | ~4h 16m in | I 80

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none lane. Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebrask...

248.3 mi into trip | ~4h 42m in | I 80 Local; US 6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Local; US 6 toward I 29 North, I 80 West Local: Council Bluffs

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 4B Toward I 29 North, I 80 West Local: Council Blu...

Towns Along This Route

Between Cedar Rapids, IA and Carter Lake, IA, road signs point toward Des Moines and Omaha Nebraska.

Des Moines

75.9 mi in | ~1h 30m

Omaha Nebraska

224.7 mi in | ~4h 16m | via I 80

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 80	124.8 mi	2h 14m
Lincoln Highway	37.3 mi	43m
Marshalltown Boulevard	33.7 mi	39m
73rd Street	24.4 mi	28m
US 65	13 mi	15m
Collins Road Northeast	8.2 mi	9m
I 80 Local	2.9 mi	3m
16th Avenue Southwest	2.4 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 80 — 124.8 mi, about 2h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Carter Lake, IA.

Start on Tiperary Drive Northeast

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Tiperary Drive Northeast

Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast

184 ft · 13 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast

Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast

1.2 mi · 2 min · 32nd Street Northeast

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Merge onto I 380; IA 27

0.5 mi · 40 sec · Avenue of the Saints

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward IA 100

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 20 sec

Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 west: Waterloo

Turn left

0.3 mi · 45 sec

Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south, IA 100 west: Iowa City

Merge onto IA 100

8.2 mi · 9 min · Collins Road Northeast

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown

Merge onto US 30; US 218

2.4 mi · 2 min · 16th Avenue Southwest

Continue on US 30; US 218

24 mi · 28 min · 73rd Street

Continue on US 30

37 mi · 43 min · Lincoln Highway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines

Turn left onto IA 330

34 mi · 39 min · Marshalltown Boulevard

Continue on US 65; IA 330

0.7 mi · 58 sec · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

Take the exit onto US 65

13 mi · 15 min · US 65

Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines Use the none lane.

Continue on I 80; I 35

5.6 mi · 6 min · I 80; I 35

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80

96 mi · 1 hr 42 min · I 80

Toward I 80 West: Omaha Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

24 mi · 25 min · I 80

Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Local; US 6

2.9 mi · 3 min · I 80 Local; US 6

Exit 4B Toward I 29 North, I 80 West Local: Council Bluffs Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 29; US 6

2.0 mi · 2 min · I 29; US 6

Toward I 29 North: Sioux City Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 6

1.7 mi · 2 min · US 6

Toward I 480 West, US 6 West

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Exit 3 Toward 14th Street, Old Market District, Creighton University

Turn right onto North 14th Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · North 14th Street

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto Izard Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Izard Street

Continue on North 11th Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · North 11th Street

Turn right onto East Locust Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Locust Street

Turn left onto North 9th Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · North 9th Street

Arrive at destination

North 9th 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 128.9 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 2h 33m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124.8 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 128.9 miles or 2h 33m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carter Lake, 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 257.8 miles and 4h 58m.

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.

The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 124.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 128.9 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA · 2h 33m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukee, IA

129 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

Ames, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West Des Moines, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 128.9 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 124.8 miles.

Arriving in Carter Lake, IA

The final approach into Carter Lake, 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 Carter Lake, 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

$39.16 one way

$78.31 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 90 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$43.17	$86.33
premium	$4.80	$48.67	$97.33
diesel	$5.64	$57.27	$114.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$39

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$64–$89

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 90.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	77.3	0	$27.07	$12.37
Efficient EV	64.5	0	$22.56	$10.31
EV Truck/SUV	103.1	1	$36.09	$16.50

Gas CO2

90 kg

EV CO2

30 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Cedar Rapids, IA

Afternoon in Cedar Rapids on Sunday

Local time

1:35 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Carter Lake, IA

Afternoon in Carter Lake on Sunday

Local time

1:35 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°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

6 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

4h 58m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Carter Lake, IA covers 257.8 miles and takes about 4h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 80, Lincoln Highway, Marshalltown Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 128.9 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 $39.16 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Cedar Rapids, IA and Carter Lake, IA, road signs point toward Des Moines and Omaha Nebraska.

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