Drive Time
2h 30m
Distance
111.4 mi
179 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
Photo: DS stories
The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Cresco, IA covers 111.4 miles and takes about 2h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Crystal Drive Northeast, 32nd Street Northeast, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.92 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
55.7 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 30m drive with frequent turns across 111.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Cresco, IA is easy. At 2h 30m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Cresco, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Drive Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 32nd Street Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Avenue of the Saints | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CR V65 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Benson Shady Grove Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Cresco, IA.
Start on Tiperary Drive Northeast
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
Take the ramp right
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
Take the exit slight right toward CR V65: Jesup, La Porte City
Turn right onto South Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue
Continue on Benson Shady Grove Avenue
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Continue on Baxter Avenue
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Baxter Avenue
Exit the roundabout onto Baxter Avenue
Continue on Walnut Street South
Turn left onto Fairbank Street
Continue on 102nd Street
Turn right onto North Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue
Continue on Y Avenue
Turn left onto 230th Street
Turn right onto Viking Avenue
Continue on Union Avenue
Continue on County Highway V56
Turn right onto State Highway 24
Turn left onto Union Avenue
Turn right onto 100th Street
Turn left onto Willow Avenue
Continue on 3rd Street Southwest
Continue on 3rd Street West
Turn right onto 8th Avenue West
Arrive at your 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 80 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.7 miles or 1h 15m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cresco, IA than in the middle of the route.
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 111.4 miles and 2h 30m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.7 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA · 1h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 55.7 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Cresco, 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 Cresco, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$16.92 one way
$33.84 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $18.65 | $37.31 |
| premium | $4.80 | $21.03 | $42.06 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $24.75 | $49.50 |
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: 39 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.4 | 0 | $11.70 | $5.35 |
| Efficient EV | 27.9 | 0 | $9.75 | $4.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.60 | $7.13 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Cedar Rapids on Sunday
Local time
8:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Cresco on Sunday
Local time
8:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
56 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.
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