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Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Laurens, IA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 9m

Distance

208.2 mi

335 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

12 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 56m ★
6 AM
4h 9m
8 AM
4h 35m
10 AM
4h 18m
12 PM
4h 16m
3 PM
4h 20m
5 PM
4h 34m
8 PM
4h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Laurens, IA, IA

Laurens, IA

Quang Nguyen Vinh

Trip Overview

The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Laurens, IA covers 208.2 miles and takes about 4h 9m 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, 220th Avenue, 450th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 170.8 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.55 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

104.1 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 9m. Total distance: 208.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 9m drive with frequent turns across 208.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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 170.8 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,309 ft 788 ft

Total Climb

579 ft

Total Descent

78 ft

Highest Point

1,309 ft

~208.2 mi in

Elevation Range

521 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 49.9 miles in near US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 9m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 49.9 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 172.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 174.2 miles (IA 4 / Marshall Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

4
49.9 mi into trip | ~56m in | US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints

Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
172.4 mi into trip | ~3h 17m in

Take the exit toward IA 4: Rockwell City, Pocahontas

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

Toward IA 4: Rockwell City, Pocahontas
4
174.2 mi into trip | ~3h 20m in | IA 4 / Marshall Avenue

Keep slight left at fork onto IA 4 / Marshall Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
199 mi into trip | ~3h 55m in | IA 10 / Cummins Road

Turn left onto IA 10 / Cummins Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
208.2 mi into trip | ~4h 9m in | West Main Street

Turn left onto West Main 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.

On the drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Laurens, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Pocahontas along the way.

Pocahontas

172.4 mi in | ~3h 17m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Avenue of the Saints 170.8 mi 3h 14m
220th Avenue 16.9 mi 23m
450th Street 6.1 mi 8m
Marengo Avenue 4.8 mi 6m
Marshall Avenue 2.1 mi 2m
Cummins Road 2 mi 2m
Southwest 7th Street 1.6 mi 3m
32nd Street Northeast 1.2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 170.8 mi, about 3h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Laurens, 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 left at fork onto US 20; IA 27

123 mi · 2 hr 21 min · Avenue of the Saints
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward IA 4: Rockwell City, Pocahontas
8

Turn right onto IA 4

1.4 mi · 1 min · Marshall Avenue
9

Keep slight left at fork onto IA 4

0.8 mi · 1 min · Marshall Avenue
10

Continue on IA 4

4.3 mi · 5 min · Marengo Avenue
11

Continue on IA 4; IA 7

0.7 mi · 1 min · South East Street
12

Continue on IA 4; IA 7

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Marengo Avenue
13

Continue on IA 4; IA 7

11 mi · 15 min · 220th Avenue
14

Continue on IA 4

1.6 mi · 3 min · Southwest 7th Street
15

Continue on IA 4

5.5 mi · 7 min · 220th Avenue
16

Turn left onto IA 10

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cummins Road
Use the left lane.
17

Continue on IA 10

6.1 mi · 8 min · 450th Street
18

Turn straight onto IA 10

0.9 mi · 1 min · State Highway 10
19

Turn right onto South 3rd Street

0.3 mi · 45 sec · South 3rd Street
20

Turn left onto West Main Street

125 ft · 3 sec · West Main Street
21

Arrive at destination

West Main 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 104.1 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 170.8 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 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 104.1 miles or 1h 58m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laurens, 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 208.2 miles and 4h 9m.

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 Avenue of the Saints for about 170.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 104.1 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA · 1h 58m into the drive

city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waterloo, IA

104 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

Waterloo, IA

Fuel and coffee

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

Ames, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 104.1 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 Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 170.8 miles.

Arriving in Laurens, IA

The final approach into Laurens, 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 Laurens, 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

$32.55 one way

$65.10 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 73 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $35.74 $71.48
premium $4.89 $40.07 $80.13
diesel $5.61 $45.97 $91.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 72.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

12 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Blink Charging Station

Webster City, Iowa

Blink

1 DCFC

Red E Charging Station

Webster City, Iowa

Other

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Tesla

1 DCFC

EV Connect Charging Station

Fort Dodge, Iowa

EV Connect

1 DCFC

Blink Charging Station

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Blink

1 DCFC

Blink Charging Station

Center Point, Iowa

Blink

1 DCFC

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Shell Recharge

1 DCFC

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

Williams, Iowa

Other

1 DCFC

Blink: 3 Other: 3 Shell Recharge: 3 Tesla: 1 EV Connect: 1 EVgo: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 62.5 0 $21.86 $9.99
Efficient EV 52.1 0 $18.22 $8.33
EV Truck/SUV 83.3 1 $29.15 $13.32

Gas CO2

73 kg

EV CO2

24 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 15, 2026

Origin

Cedar Rapids, IA

Afternoon in Cedar Rapids on Thursday

Local time

1:35 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Laurens, IA

Afternoon in Laurens on Thursday

Local time

1:35 PM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

68°F

Waterloo, IA

104 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

23 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 9m 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 Laurens, IA covers 208.2 miles and takes about 4h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, 220th Avenue, 450th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104.1 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 $32.55 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.
This is a straightforward 4h 9m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 49.9 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 172.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 174.2 miles (IA 4 / Marshall Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Laurens, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Pocahontas along the way.

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