The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Saint Ansgar, IA covers 136.2 miles and takes about 2h 47m 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, Monroe Street, United States Highway 218 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 97.3 miles on Avenue of the Saints.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.29 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
68.1 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 136.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (14%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 47m drive with frequent turns across 136.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 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 97.3 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 13 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 136.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 108.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 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
108.8 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 218 north, CR T44: Floyd
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218 north, CR T44: Floyd
4
120.4 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|US 218; IA 9 / County Road T42
Turn left onto US 218; IA 9 / County Road T42
Navigation decision point
4
124.4 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|US 218 / North 7th Street
Turn right onto US 218 / North 7th 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 Saint Ansgar, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Cr T44: Floyd along the way.
Cr T44: Floyd
108.8 mi in|~2h 6m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
97.3 mi
1h 49m
Monroe Street
11.2 mi
15m
United States Highway 218
10.6 mi
14m
I 380
5.6 mi
7m
County Road T42
3 mi
4m
Leo P Rooff Expressway
2.1 mi
2m
West Washington Street
1.3 mi
1m
32nd Street Northeast
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 97.3 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Saint Ansgar, 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
49 mi·56 min·Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·53 sec
Toward US 218 north, CR T44: Floyd
15
Turn right onto US 218
11 mi·15 min·Monroe Street
16
Turn left onto US 218; IA 9
3.0 mi·4 min·County Road T42
17
Continue on US 218; IA 9
1.0 mi·2 min·Main Street
18
Turn right onto US 218
0.8 mi·1 min·North 7th Street
19
Continue on US 218
11 mi·14 min·United States Highway 218
20
Continue on US 218
0.4 mi·1 min·East 4th Street
21
Turn left onto Train Lane
59 ft·2 sec·Train Lane
22
Arrive at destination
Train Lane
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.1 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.3 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 30 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.1 miles or 1h 19m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Ansgar, 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 136.2 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 97.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68.1 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA
· 1h 19m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.29 one way
$42.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.38
$46.76
premium
$4.89
$26.21
$52.42
diesel
$5.61
$30.07
$60.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
10 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Supercharger
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Waterloo, Iowa
Tesla
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Blink
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Center Point, Iowa
Blink
1 DCFC
Shell Recharge Charging Station
Charles City, Iowa
Shell Recharge
1 DCFC
Shell Recharge Charging Station
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Shell Recharge
1 DCFC
Shell Recharge Charging Station
Waterloo, Iowa
Shell Recharge
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Other
1 DCFC
Blink: 4
Shell Recharge: 3
Tesla: 2
Other: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.9
0
$14.30
$6.54
Efficient EV
34.1
0
$11.92
$5.45
EV Truck/SUV
54.5
0
$19.07
$8.72
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Morning
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
8:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Ansgar, IA
Morning
in Saint Ansgar on Saturday
Local time
8:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
2 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
2h 47m 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 Saint Ansgar, IA covers 136.2 miles and takes about 2h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, Monroe Street, United States Highway 218. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68.1 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 $21.29 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.
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 136.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 108.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Saint Ansgar, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Cr T44: Floyd 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
