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Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Columbus Junction, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 18m

Distance

63.4 mi

102 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 13m ★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 15m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Columbus Junction, IA, IA

Columbus Junction, IA

Dave Luzi, Litchfield CT REALTOR

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Cedar Rapids to Columbus Junction, you are looking at a straightforward 63.4-mile trek through the heart of the Midwest. Expect the drive to take approximately 1 hour and 18 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a simple one-day trip. You will navigate a mix of thoroughfares, including 29th Street Northeast, the Avenue of the Saints, and State Highway 92. With a total estimated fuel cost of just $10, this is a budget-friendly journey that requires no overnight stops. Because the route stays entirely within Iowa, you can anticipate a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that gets you from point A to point B without any necessary detours or complex planning.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 63.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (14%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

This trip features a turn-heavy profile that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. While about 14% of your journey is spent on highways, the remainder consists of local roads that require your full attention. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Avenue of the Saints, which serves as the longest uninterrupted stretch at 51.9 miles. The character of the road shifts significantly as you transition from the urban-adjacent streets of Cedar Rapids onto the more technical local segments. Be prepared for a drive that demands consistent navigation rather than a monotonous interstate cruise.

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 51.9 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

822 ft 605 ft

Total Climb

227 ft

Total Descent

431 ft

Highest Point

822 ft

~9.1 mi in

Elevation Range

217 ft

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 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 18m 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 (Lindale Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (29th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 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

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | 29th Street Northeast

Turn right onto 29th Street Northeast

Navigation decision point

5
1.5 mi into trip | ~3m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

4
54 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in | IA 92 / State Highway 92

Turn right onto IA 92 / State Highway 92

Navigation decision point

5
63.3 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in | Walnut Street

Turn right onto Walnut Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Avenue of the Saints 51.9 mi 59m
State Highway 92 8.8 mi 13m
29th Street Northeast 1.2 mi 2m
Oak Street 0.4 mi <1m
Lindale Avenue Northeast 0.1 mi <1m
Coldstream Avenue Northeast 0.1 mi <1m
Tiffany Drive Northeast 0.1 mi <1m
2nd Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 51.9 mi, about 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Columbus Junction, 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

52 mi · 59 min · Avenue of the Saints
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 52 sec
9

Turn right onto IA 92

8.8 mi · 13 min · State Highway 92
10

Continue on IA 92

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Oak Street
11

Turn left onto 2nd Street

424 ft · 22 sec · 2nd Street
12

Turn right onto Walnut Street

279 ft · 5 sec · Walnut Street
13

Arrive at destination

Walnut Street

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31.7 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA · 38m into the drive

city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Coralville, IA

32 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

Hiawatha, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Coralville, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.7 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Columbus Junction, IA

The final approach into Columbus Junction, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.91 one way

$19.82 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.88 $21.77
premium $4.89 $12.20 $24.40
diesel $5.61 $14.00 $28.00

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19 0 $6.66 $3.04
Efficient EV 15.9 0 $5.55 $2.54
EV Truck/SUV 25.4 0 $8.88 $4.06

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 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 13, 2026

Origin

Cedar Rapids, IA

Evening in Cedar Rapids on Friday

Local time

5:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 10 to 15 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 14 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Columbus Junction, IA

Evening in Columbus Junction on Friday

Local time

5:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 10 to 15 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 14 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 18m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Columbus Junction, IA covers 63.4 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, State Highway 92, 29th Street Northeast. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 31.7 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 $9.91 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 1h 18m 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 (Lindale Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (29th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point.

The route from Cedar Rapids, IA to Columbus Junction, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 605 ft to 822 ft elevation with about 227 ft of total climbing.

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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Columbus Junction, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

63 mi 1h 18m

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