Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Mapleton, IA

Drive Time

4h 52m

Distance

246.7 mi

397 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 39m ★
6 AM
4h 52m
8 AM
5h 19m
10 AM
5h 2m
12 PM
4h 59m
3 PM
5h 3m
5 PM
5h 18m
8 PM
4h 44m

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

Trip Overview

The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Mapleton, IA covers 246.7 miles and takes about 4h 52m 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, State Highway 175, Eagle Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 208.6 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.47 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

123.4 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 52m drive with frequent turns across 246.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 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 208.6 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 0.1 miles in near Crystal Drive Northeast.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 52m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Crystal Drive Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 49.9 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 219.7 miles (L67 / Eagle Avenue): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

3
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Crystal Drive Northeast

Continue onto Crystal Drive Northeast

Navigation decision point

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
219.7 mi into trip | ~4h 12m in | L67 / Eagle Avenue

Turn left onto L67 / Eagle Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
229.7 mi into trip | ~4h 26m in | IA 175 / State Highway 175

At end of road, turn right onto IA 175 / State Highway 175

Navigation decision point

5
246.1 mi into trip | ~4h 50m in | IA 141; IA 175 / North 4th Street

At end of road, turn left onto IA 141; IA 175 / North 4th Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Avenue of the Saints 208.6 mi 3h 57m
State Highway 175 15.4 mi 21m
Eagle Avenue 10.1 mi 13m
160th Street 6.4 mi 7m
United States Highway 20 1.9 mi 2m
Highway 20 1.3 mi 1m
32nd Street Northeast 1.2 mi 2m
1st Street 0.9 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 208.6 mi, about 3h 57m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Mapleton, 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

160 mi · 3 hr 4 min · Avenue of the Saints
7

Continue on US 20

6.4 mi · 7 min · 160th Street
8

Continue on US 20

1.9 mi · 2 min · United States Highway 20
9

Continue on US 20

1.3 mi · 1 min · Highway 20
10

Turn left onto L67

10 mi · 13 min · Eagle Avenue
11

At end of road, turn right onto IA 175

1.1 mi · 1 min · State Highway 175
12

Continue on IA 175

0.9 mi · 2 min · 1st Street
13

Continue on IA 175

14 mi · 20 min · State Highway 175
14

At end of road, turn left onto IA 141; IA 175

0.6 mi · 1 min · North 4th Street
15

Turn left onto Main Street

46 ft · 2 sec · Main Street
16

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 123.4 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 208.6 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 123.4 miles or 2h 21m 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 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mapleton, 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 246.7 miles and 4h 52m.

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 208.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 123.4 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA · 2h 21m into the drive

Downtown Ames, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ames, IA

123 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.

Popular next leg

Ames, IA to Mapleton, IA

125.5 mi · 2h 55m

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 123.4 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 208.6 miles.

Arriving in Mapleton, IA

The final approach into Mapleton, 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 Mapleton, 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

$37.47 one way

$74.94 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 86 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $41.31 $82.62
premium $4.80 $46.57 $93.14
diesel $5.64 $54.81 $109.62

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$37

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 86.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 74 0 $25.90 $11.84
Efficient EV 61.7 0 $21.59 $9.87
EV Truck/SUV 98.7 1 $34.54 $15.79

Gas CO2

86 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (66% 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 3 days ago

Origin

Cedar Rapids, IA

Morning in Cedar Rapids on Monday

Local time

9:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mapleton, IA

Morning in Mapleton on Monday

Local time

9:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

46°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

3 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 52m 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 Mapleton, IA covers 246.7 miles and takes about 4h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, State Highway 175, Eagle Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 123.4 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 $37.47 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 52m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Crystal Drive Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 49.9 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 219.7 miles (L67 / Eagle Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Cedar Rapids, IA to Mapleton, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Mapleton, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

246.5 mi 4h 51m

Explore more options from Cedar Rapids, IA or browse trips ending in Mapleton, IA.

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