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Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Burlington, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 5m

Distance

105.8 mi

170 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 57m ★
6 AM
2h 6m
8 AM
2h 24m
10 AM
2h 12m
12 PM
2h 10m
3 PM
2h 13m
5 PM
2h 23m
8 PM
2h 0m

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

city in Des Moines County, Iowa, United States

Burlington, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Burlington, IA covers 105.8 miles and takes about 2h 5m 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, US 34, 29th Street Northeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.2 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.54 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.

Midpoint

52.9 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 105.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (26%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 5m drive with frequent turns across 105.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 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 76.2 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 Lindale Avenue Northeast.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 5m 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 (Lindale Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 77.9 miles (US 34; IA 163): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Lindale Avenue Northeast

At end of road, turn right onto Lindale Avenue Northeast

Navigation decision point

5
1.5 mi into trip | ~3m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

6
77.9 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in | US 34; IA 163

Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163 toward US 34 East, 163 East: Mount Pleasant, Burlington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 42 Toward US 34 East, 163 East: Mount Pleasant, Bu...
7
78.2 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in | US 34; IA 163

Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163 toward US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 42 Toward US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
5
105 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in

Take the exit toward Central Ave

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 262B Toward Central Ave

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 Burlington, IA, road signs begin pointing toward 163 East: Mount Pleasant along the way.

163 East: Mount Pleasant

77.9 mi in | ~1h 31m | via US 34; IA 163

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Avenue of the Saints 76.2 mi 1h 27m
US 34 27 mi 32m
29th Street Northeast 1.2 mi 2m
North Central Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
Lindale Avenue Northeast 0.1 mi <1m
Coldstream Avenue Northeast 0.1 mi <1m
Tiffany Drive Northeast 0.1 mi <1m
Tiperary Drive Northeast <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 76.2 mi, about 1h 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Tiperary Drive Northeast

56 ft · 2 sec · Tiperary Drive Northeast
2

Continue on Tiffany Drive Northeast

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Tiffany Drive Northeast
3

At end of road, turn right onto Lindale Avenue Northeast

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Lindale Avenue Northeast
4

Turn right onto 29th Street Northeast

1.2 mi · 2 min · 29th Street Northeast
5

Continue on Coldstream Avenue Northeast

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Coldstream Avenue Northeast
6

Turn left

0.2 mi · 31 sec
7

Merge onto I 380; IA 27

73 mi · 1 hr 23 min · Avenue of the Saints
8

Keep slight left at fork onto US 218; IA 27

3.6 mi · 4 min · Avenue of the Saints
9

Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163

0.3 mi · 32 sec · US 34; IA 163
Exit 42 Toward US 34 East, 163 East: Mount Pleasant, Burlington
10

Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163

27 mi · 31 min · US 34; IA 163
Exit 42 Toward US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 262B Toward Central Ave
12

Turn right onto North Central Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Central Avenue
13

Arrive at destination

South Central Avenue

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.9 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.2 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 23 miles or 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 52.9 miles or 1h 2m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burlington, 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 105.8 miles and 2h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 76.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 52.9 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA · 1h 2m into the drive

city in Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Washington, IA

53 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

North Liberty, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Riverside, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 52.9 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 76.2 miles.

Arriving in Burlington, IA

The final approach into Burlington, 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 Burlington, IA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.54 one way

$33.08 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 37 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $18.16 $36.32
premium $4.89 $20.36 $40.72
diesel $5.61 $23.36 $46.72

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 37 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 31.7 0 $11.11 $5.08
Efficient EV 26.5 0 $9.26 $4.23
EV Truck/SUV 42.3 0 $14.81 $6.77

Gas CO2

37 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (68% 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 Saturday

Local time

3:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Burlington, IA

Late night in Burlington on Saturday

Local time

3:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Washington, IA

53 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

4 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

2h 5m 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 Burlington, IA covers 105.8 miles and takes about 2h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, US 34, 29th Street Northeast. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 52.9 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 $16.54 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 2h 5m 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 (Lindale Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 77.9 miles (US 34; IA 163): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

On the drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Burlington, IA, road signs begin pointing toward 163 East: Mount Pleasant 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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