The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Garner, IA covers 156.4 miles and takes about 3h 5m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, US 18, I 380 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 130.8 miles on Avenue of the Saints.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.45 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
78.2 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 156.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (13%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 5m drive with frequent turns across 156.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 130.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 49.9 miles in near I 380.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 156.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 49.9 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.4 miles (US 218): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142.4 miles (I 35 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
49.9 mi into trip|~56m in|I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
6
59.4 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|US 218
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218 toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
5
142.4 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|I 35 Business
Take the exit onto I 35 Business toward I 35 Business, CR B35: Clear Lake, Mason City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 Business, CR B35: Clear Lake, Mason...
4
142.6 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|I 35 Business / 4th Avenue South
Turn left onto I 35 Business / 4th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
5
156.4 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|East 3rd Street
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cedar Rapids, IA and Garner, IA, road signs point toward Cr B35: Clear Lake and Mason City.
Cr B35: Clear Lake
142.4 mi in|~2h 45m|via I 35 Business
Mason City
142.4 mi in|~2h 45m|via I 35 Business
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
130.8 mi
2h 27m
US 18
11.6 mi
16m
I 380
5.6 mi
7m
Leo P Rooff Expressway
2.1 mi
2m
West Washington Street
1.3 mi
1m
4th Avenue South
1.2 mi
1m
32nd Street Northeast
1.2 mi
2m
US 218
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 130.8 mi, about 2h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Garner, 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
0.2 mi·30 sec
5
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
48 mi·52 min·Avenue of the Saints
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
5.6 mi·7 min·I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
7
Continue on US 218
0.2 mi·18 sec·West Washington Expressway
8
Continue on US 218
0.7 mi·51 sec·Leo P Rooff Expressway
9
Continue on US 218
1.3 mi·1 min·West Washington Street
10
Continue on US 218
1.4 mi·1 min·Leo P Rooff Expressway
11
Take the exit onto US 218
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 218
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218
0.5 mi·58 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
13
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
83 mi·1 hr 35 min·Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
0.3 mi·40 sec·I 35 Business
Toward I 35 Business, CR B35: Clear Lake, Mason City
15
Turn left onto I 35 Business
1.2 mi·1 min·4th Avenue South
16
Turn right onto I 35 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·South 8th Street
17
Turn left onto US 18
12 mi·16 min·US 18
18
Turn left onto State Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·State Street
19
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
69 ft·1 sec·East 3rd Street
20
Arrive at destination
East 3rd 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 78.2 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.8 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 34 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.2 miles or 1h 31m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Garner, 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 156.4 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 130.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 78.2 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA
· 1h 31m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.9
0
$16.42
$7.51
Efficient EV
39.1
0
$13.69
$6.26
EV Truck/SUV
62.6
0
$21.90
$10.01
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 18, 2026
Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
4:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 17 at 11:29PM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Garner, IA
Late night
in Garner on Saturday
Local time
4:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Waverly, IA
78 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
35 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 5m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Garner, IA covers 156.4 miles and takes about 3h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, US 18, I 380. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 78.2 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 $24.45 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 156.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 49.9 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.4 miles (US 218): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142.4 miles (I 35 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Cedar Rapids, IA and Garner, IA, road signs point toward Cr B35: Clear Lake and Mason City.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
