Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Morning in Cedar Rapids on Friday
Local time
10:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Oelwein, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
52.6 mi
85 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oelwein, IA
Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto
Trip Overview
The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Oelwein, IA covers 52.6 miles and takes about 1h 10m 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, Jamestown Avenue, Jackson Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.22 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 52.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 10m drive with frequent turns across 52.6 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 20.4 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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 10m drive. You will face about 10 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 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.7 miles (IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese 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
5
21.9 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward IA 150: Independence, Vinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 150: Independence, Vinton
4
37.7 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East
Turn right onto IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East
Navigation decision point
4
37.8 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
IA 150 / 5th Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto IA 150 / 5th Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
4
51.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
South Frederick Avenue
Turn right onto South Frederick Avenue
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 Oelwein, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Vinton along the way.
Vinton
21.9 mi in
|
~25m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 20.4 mi | 22m |
| Jamestown Avenue | 14.7 mi | 20m |
| Jackson Avenue | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| 31st Avenue | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| 3rd Avenue Southeast | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 32nd Street Northeast | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Palace Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| 5th Avenue Northeast | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 20.4 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Oelwein, 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
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward IA 150: Independence, Vinton
7
Turn right onto IA 150
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
31st Avenue
8
Continue on IA 150
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Jamestown Avenue
9
Continue on IA 150
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
3rd Avenue Southeast
10
Turn right onto IA 150; CR D22
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
1st Street East
11
Turn left onto IA 150
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Avenue Northeast
12
Continue on IA 150
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Jamestown Avenue
13
Continue on IA 150
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Jackson Avenue
14
Continue on IA 150
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street South
15
Continue on IA 150
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Jackson Avenue
16
Continue on Palace Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Palace Road
17
Continue on IA 150
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Rock Island Road
18
Turn left onto 10th Street Southeast
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
10th Street Southeast
19
Turn right onto South Frederick Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Frederick Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
South Frederick Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.3 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.3 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Oelwein, IA
The final approach into Oelwein, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.22 one way
$16.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.03 | $18.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.12 | $20.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.61 | $23.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.60 | $2.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21 | 0 | $7.36 | $3.37 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Oelwein, IA
Morning in Oelwein on Friday
Local time
10:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Urbana, IA
26 mi in
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
17 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
1h 10m 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 Oelwein, IA covers 52.6 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, Jamestown Avenue, Jackson Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.3 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 $8.22 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 10m drive. You will face about 10 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 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.7 miles (IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Oelwein, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Vinton along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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