HuHot Mongolian Grill
Near the start, short detour
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+13193936000
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 42m
Distance
85.5 mi
138 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clarksville, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Clarksville, IA covers 85.5 miles and takes about 1h 42m 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, I 380, State Highway 3 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 63.3 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.37 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
42.7 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 63.3 mi | 1h 10m |
| I 380 | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| State Highway 3 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| 210th Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| 230th Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| State Highway 188 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| West Washington Street | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Clarksville, IA.
Start on Tiperary Drive Northeast
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
Continue on US 218
Continue on US 218
Continue on US 218
Continue on US 218
Take the exit onto US 218
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
Take the exit
Turn left onto IA 3
Continue on IA 3
Continue on IA 3
Turn right onto IA 188
Continue on IA 188
Turn right onto East Superior Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 19 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.7 miles or 48m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, IA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Cedar Rapids, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cedar Rapids, IA
This is one driving day of about 85.5 miles and 1h 42m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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.
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.7 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 63.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Near the start, short detour
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+13193936000
Red Lobster
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Persis Biryani Indian Grill
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Near the start, short detour
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+13193936000
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+13193950450
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Hours: 11 am–2 pm
+13198262000
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Hours: 11 am–9:15 pm
+13199815001
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Hiawatha, Iowa
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
+13193788885
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Marion, Iowa
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+13193772100
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Hours: 6 am–3 pm
+13195504517
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Hours: 4:30–9 pm
+13193663177
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Waterloo, Iowa
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18889982546
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Center Point, Iowa
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18889982546
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Waterloo, Iowa
Hours: Open 24 hours
+31880109500
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Shell Rock, Iowa
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18889982546
Visit websiteNear the start, ~10 min detour
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
+18006360986
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 49.9 and 85.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
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
Turn left onto IA 3 / 230th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto IA 188 / State Highway 188
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto East Superior Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$13.37 one way
$26.73 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.68 | $29.35 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.45 | $32.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.88 | $37.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.7 | 0 | $8.98 | $4.10 |
| Efficient EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.2 | 0 | $11.97 | $5.47 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
12:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Clarksville on Saturday
Local time
12:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
68°F
Waterloo, IA
43 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
85.5 mi in 1h 42m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 49.9 miles in near I 380.
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 85.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 75.2 miles (IA 3 / 230th Street): Navigation decision point.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 85.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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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