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Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Earlham, IA

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

2h 59m

Distance

150.3 mi

242 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 48m ★
6 AM
2h 59m
8 AM
3h 22m
10 AM
3h 7m
12 PM
3h 5m
3 PM
3h 9m
5 PM
3h 21m
8 PM
2h 53m

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

Downtown Earlham, IA, IA

Earlham, IA

Clément Proust

Trip Overview

The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Earlham, IA covers 150.3 miles and takes about 2h 59m 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 $23.50 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

75.1 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 59m drive with frequent turns across 150.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Crystal Drive Northeast is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Earlham, IA is easy. At 2h 59m 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 Earlham, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Crystal Drive Northeast
32nd Street Northeast
Avenue of the Saints
IA 100
I-380 north
I-380 south
Collins Road Northeast
US 30 West

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Crystal Drive Northeast — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Earlham, 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 right

0.2 mi · 30 sec
5

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

0.5 mi · 41 sec · Avenue of the Saints
6

Take the exit slight right toward IA 100

0.3 mi · 38 sec · IA 100
7

Keep slight left to continue on I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 west: Waterloo

0.1 mi · 21 sec · I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 west: Waterloo
8

Turn left onto I-380 south, IA 27 south, IA 100 west: Iowa City

0.3 mi · 46 sec · I-380 south, IA 27 south, IA 100 west: Iowa City
9

Merge slight left onto Collins Road Northeast

8.2 mi · 9 min · Collins Road Northeast
10

Take the exit slight right toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown

0.7 mi · 1 min · US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
11

Merge slight left onto 16th Avenue Southwest

2.4 mi · 2 min · 16th Avenue Southwest
12

Continue on 73rd Street

24 mi · 28 min · 73rd Street
13

Continue on Lincoln Highway

37 mi · 43 min · Lincoln Highway
14

Take the exit slight right toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines

0.3 mi · 46 sec · IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
15

Turn left onto Marshalltown Boulevard

34 mi · 39 min · Marshalltown Boulevard
16

Continue on Northeast Hubbell Avenue

0.7 mi · 58 sec · Northeast Hubbell Avenue
17

Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

13 mi · 15 min · I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
18

Continue straight

5.6 mi · 6 min
19

Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

19 mi · 20 min · I 80 West: Omaha
20

Take the exit slight right toward CR P57: Earlham

0.3 mi · 43 sec · CR P57: Earlham
21

Turn left onto I Avenue

1.1 mi · 1 min · I Avenue
22

Continue on County Road P57

0.3 mi · 31 sec · County Road P57
23

Continue on North Chestnut Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Chestnut Avenue
24

Turn right onto Northwest 2nd Street

387 ft · 22 sec · Northwest 2nd Street
25

Turn left onto Northwest Locust Avenue

240 ft · 11 sec · Northwest Locust Avenue
26

Arrive at your destination

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 75.1 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 1h 29m into the drive.

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 33 miles or 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 75.1 miles or 1h 29m 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 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Earlham, 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 150.3 miles and 2h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 75.1 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA · 1h 29m into the drive

city and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marshalltown, IA

75 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

Vinton, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marshalltown, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 75.1 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Earlham, IA

The final approach into Earlham, 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 Earlham, 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

$23.50 one way

$47.00 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 53 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $25.80 $51.60
premium $4.89 $28.92 $57.85
diesel $5.61 $33.18 $66.37

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 52.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 45.1 0 $15.78 $7.21
Efficient EV 37.6 0 $13.15 $6.01
EV Truck/SUV 60.1 0 $21.04 $9.62

Gas CO2

53 kg

EV CO2

18 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Cedar Rapids, IA

Evening in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday

Local time

6:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Earlham, IA

Evening in Earlham on Wednesday

Local time

6:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

51°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

2 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 59m 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 Earlham, IA covers 150.3 miles and takes about 2h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Crystal Drive Northeast, 32nd Street Northeast, Avenue of the Saints. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.1 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 $23.50 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.
The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Earlham, IA is easy. At 2h 59m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Earlham, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cedar Rapids, IA to Earlham, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Earlham, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

150.6 mi 2h 30m

Explore more options from Cedar Rapids, IA or browse trips ending in Earlham, IA.

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