Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday
Local time
5:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Alton, IA
Data updated 29 minutes ago
Drive Time
5h 30m
Distance
277.2 mi
446 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 17m
★
6 AM
5h 30m
8 AM
5h 57m
10 AM
5h 40m
12 PM
5h 37m
3 PM
5h 41m
5 PM
5h 56m
8 PM
5h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alton, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Alton, IA covers 277.2 miles and takes about 5h 30m 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, Highway 20, State Highway 140 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 $43.34 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
138.6 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 38m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 30m drive with frequent turns across 277.2 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 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 49.9 miles in near US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 30m drive. You will face about 13 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 237.4 miles (L21 / Lee Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 244.8 miles (C66 / 320th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese 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
237.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 33m in
|
L21 / Lee Avenue
Turn right onto L21 / Lee Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
244.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 44m in
|
C66 / 320th Street
Turn left onto C66 / 320th Street
Navigation decision point
4
246.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 47m in
|
IA 140 / State Highway 140
Turn right onto IA 140 / State Highway 140
Navigation decision point
5
273.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 24m in
|
IA 10 / 460th Street
At end of road, turn left onto IA 10 / 460th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 208.6 mi | 3h 57m |
| Highway 20 | 19 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 140 | 15.1 mi | 20m |
| County Road L14 | 7 mi | 9m |
| 160th Street | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| Lee Avenue | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Kiwi Avenue | 5 mi | 6m |
| 320th Street | 2 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 Alton, 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
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Highway 20
10
Turn right onto L21
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Lee Avenue
11
Continue on Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Shamrock Avenue
12
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
320th Street
13
Turn right onto IA 140
15 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 140
14
Continue on L14
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road L14
15
Continue on L14
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Kiwi Avenue
16
At end of road, turn left onto IA 10
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
460th Street
17
Continue on IA 10
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
State Highway 10
18
Turn left onto East Division Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Division Street
19
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
3rd Avenue
20
Turn left onto West 10th Street
156 ft
·
8 sec
·
West 10th Street
21
Turn right
112 ft
·
8 sec
22
Arrive at destination
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 138.6 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 2h 38m 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 138.6 miles or 2h 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 4h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alton, 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 277.2 miles and 5h 30m.
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 138.6 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA · 2h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 138.6 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 208.6 miles.
Arriving in Alton, IA
The final approach into Alton, 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 Alton, 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
$43.34 one way
$86.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $47.58 | $95.16 |
| premium | $4.89 | $53.34 | $106.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $61.20 | $122.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.2 | 1 | $29.11 | $13.31 |
| Efficient EV | 69.3 | 0 | $24.26 | $11.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 110.9 | 1 | $38.81 | $17.74 |
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Alton, IA
Late night in Alton on Wednesday
Local time
5:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 30m 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 Alton, IA covers 277.2 miles and takes about 5h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, Highway 20, State Highway 140. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.6 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 $43.34 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 5h 30m drive. You will face about 13 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 237.4 miles (L21 / Lee Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 244.8 miles (C66 / 320th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Cedar Rapids, IA to Alton, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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