Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Evening in Cedar Rapids on Thursday
Local time
6:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Clarion, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 51m
Distance
144.3 mi
232 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 40m
★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 13m
10 AM
2h 59m
12 PM
2h 57m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clarion, IA
MART PRODUCTION
Trip Overview
The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Clarion, IA covers 144.3 miles and takes about 2h 51m 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, Little Wall Lake Road, 220th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 118 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.56 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
72.2 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 144.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 51m drive with frequent turns across 144.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 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 118 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 2h 51m drive. You will face about 8 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 0.1 miles (32nd Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 49.9 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
32nd Street Northeast
Turn left onto 32nd Street 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
119.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward US 69
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 69
4
139.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 44m in
|
IA 3 / 220th Street
Turn left onto IA 3 / 220th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 118 mi | 2h 13m |
| Little Wall Lake Road | 19.5 mi | 26m |
| 220th Street | 4 mi | 5m |
| 32nd Street Northeast | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Central Avenue East | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Tiperary Drive Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Crystal Drive Northeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Central Avenue West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 118 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Clarion, 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
70 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward US 69
8
Turn right onto US 69
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Little Wall Lake Road
9
Turn left onto IA 3
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
220th Street
10
Continue on IA 3
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue East
11
Arrive at destination
IA 3
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 72.2 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118 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 32 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.2 miles or 1h 22m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarion, 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 144.3 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 118 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 72.2 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA · 1h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 72.2 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 118 miles.
Arriving in Clarion, IA
The final approach into Clarion, 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 Clarion, 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
$22.56 one way
$45.12 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.77 | $49.54 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.77 | $55.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.86 | $63.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.15 | $6.93 |
| Efficient EV | 36.1 | 0 | $12.63 | $5.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.7 | 0 | $20.20 | $9.24 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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
Clarion, IA
Evening in Clarion on Thursday
Local time
6:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°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
23 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 51m 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 Clarion, IA covers 144.3 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, Little Wall Lake Road, 220th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.2 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 $22.56 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 is a straightforward 2h 51m drive. You will face about 8 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 0.1 miles (32nd Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 49.9 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Cedar Rapids, IA to Clarion, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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