The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Manson, IA covers 173.3 miles and takes about 3h 22m 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, Tabor Avenue, Sigourney Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 165.3 miles on Avenue of the Saints.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.09 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
86.7 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 22m. Total distance: 173.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Expect a 3h 22m drive with frequent turns across 173.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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 165.3 miles.
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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 22m drive. You will face about 12 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 168.5 miles (D26 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 172.1 miles (IA 7 / 190th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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
4
168.5 mi into trip|~3h 13m in|D26 / 220th Street
At end of road, turn right onto D26 / 220th Street
Navigation decision point
5
172.1 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|IA 7 / 190th Street
At end of road, turn right onto IA 7 / 190th Street
Navigation decision point
4
172.1 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|Tabor Avenue
Turn left onto Tabor Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
173.3 mi into trip|~3h 22m in|Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
165.3 mi
3h 7m
Tabor Avenue
3.5 mi
6m
Sigourney Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
32nd Street Northeast
1.2 mi
2m
220th Street
0.7 mi
<1m
8th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
10th Avenue
0.3 mi
1m
Tiperary Drive Northeast
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 165.3 mi, about 3h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Manson, 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
117 mi·2 hr 15 min·Avenue of the Saints
7
Turn right onto CR N65
1.6 mi·2 min·Sigourney Avenue
8
At end of road, turn right onto D26
0.7 mi·59 sec·220th Street
9
Turn left onto Tabor Avenue
3.0 mi·5 min·Tabor Avenue
10
At end of road, turn right onto IA 7
25 ft·5 sec·190th Street
11
Turn left onto Tabor Avenue
0.5 mi·52 sec·Tabor Avenue
12
Continue on 8th Street
0.4 mi·40 sec·8th Street
13
Turn right onto 10th Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·10th Avenue
14
Turn right onto Main Street
35 ft·1 sec·Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
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 86.7 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.3 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 38 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.7 miles or 1h 38m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manson, 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 173.3 miles and 3h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 165.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.7 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA
· 1h 38m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.09 one way
$54.19 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.75
$59.50
premium
$4.89
$33.35
$66.70
diesel
$5.61
$38.26
$76.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52
0
$18.20
$8.32
Efficient EV
43.3
0
$15.16
$6.93
EV Truck/SUV
69.3
0
$24.26
$11.09
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Friday
Local time
2:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Manson, IA
Late night
in Manson on Friday
Local time
2:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
87 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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 22m 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 Manson, IA covers 173.3 miles and takes about 3h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, Tabor Avenue, Sigourney Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.7 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 $27.09 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 is a straightforward 3h 22m drive. You will face about 12 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 168.5 miles (D26 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 172.1 miles (IA 7 / 190th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Cedar Rapids, IA to Manson, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the
methodology page.
