Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Fort Madison, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 17m

Distance

114 mi

183 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

14 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min

4 AM

2h 8m ★

6 AM

2h 18m

8 AM

2h 37m

10 AM

2h 25m

12 PM

2h 23m

3 PM

2h 26m

5 PM

2h 36m

8 PM

2h 12m

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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Trip Overview

The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Fort Madison, IA covers 114 miles and takes about 2h 17m 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, State Highway 2, Avenue O for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 98.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.82 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

57 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 114 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (8%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 17m drive with frequent turns across 114 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 18 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 98.4 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 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 2h 17m drive. You will face about 11 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 11 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

5

100.2 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in

Take the exit toward IA 2: Donnellson, Fort Madison

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward IA 2: Donnellson, Fort Madison

5

114 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Avenue of the Saints	98.4 mi	1h 53m
State Highway 2	8.9 mi	12m
Avenue O	1.7 mi	2m
Avenue L	1.5 mi	2m
29th Street Northeast	1.2 mi	2m
Avenue H	0.8 mi	1m
Old Highway 61	0.3 mi	<1m
18th Street	0.2 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 98.4 mi, about 1h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Fort Madison, 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

73 mi · 1 hr 23 min · Avenue of the Saints

8

Keep slight left at fork onto US 218; IA 27

26 mi · 29 min · Avenue of the Saints

9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 58 sec

Toward IA 2: Donnellson, Fort Madison

10

Turn left onto IA 2

8.9 mi · 12 min · State Highway 2

11

Continue on Avenue O

1.7 mi · 2 min · Avenue O

12

Continue on US 61 Business

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Old Highway 61

13

Continue on US 61 Business

1.5 mi · 2 min · Avenue L

14

Turn left onto US 61 Business

0.2 mi · 21 sec · 18th Street

15

Turn right onto US 61 Business

0.8 mi · 1 min · Avenue H

16

Turn right onto Avenue I

139 ft · 12 sec · Avenue I

17

Turn left

61 ft · 4 sec

18

Arrive at 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.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 57 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.4 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 25 miles or 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 57 miles or 1h 7m 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 49m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Madison, 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 114 miles and 2h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 98.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 57 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA · 1h 7m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Washington, IA

57 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

North Liberty, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Washington, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.4 miles.

Arriving in Fort Madison, IA

The final approach into Fort Madison, 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 Fort Madison, IA.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Coralville, Iowa

Early in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 24.4

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13195453131

Visit website

Subway

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Riverside, Iowa

0.8 mi

Steak 'n Shake

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Coralville, Iowa

1.3 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Kismet Coffee & Bloom

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+13192003218

Visit website

Groundswell Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

2.8 mi

Veritas Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

2.5 mi

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 24.4

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13195453131

Visit website

Subway

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 40.7

Riverside, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–9:30 pm

+13196482900

Visit website

Steak 'n Shake

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 24.4

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+13198006117

Visit website

Red Lobster

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately mile 24.4

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193386400

Visit website

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately mile 24.4

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13193399100

Visit website

HuHot Mongolian Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193936000

Visit website

Red Lobster

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193950450

Visit website

HuHot Mongolian Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 24.4

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193589100

Visit website

Kismet Coffee & Bloom

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+13192003218

Visit website

Groundswell Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13192002791

Visit website

Veritas Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Closed

+13192083192

Visit website

Café Saint Pio

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+13192001000

Roasters Coffeehouse NewBo

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

Midnight Coffee

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 24.4

Tiffin, Iowa

Hours: 6:30 am–2 pm

+13196262272

Visit website

Opus Concert Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13193668203

Visit website

Hyper Energy Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 24.4

North Liberty, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+13192598505

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 24.4

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 8.1

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 32.6

Iowa City, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 24.4

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+31880109500

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.1 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 24.4

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

2.4 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 16.3

North Liberty, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

+18006360986

Visit website

Caramelcorn Shoppe/Smoothie Stop

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 24.4

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+13196255568

Bistro at Blooms

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Marion, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–2:30 pm

+13194499996

Visit website

Barrel House

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 24.4

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13196262550

Visit website

Field Day Brewing Co.

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $20 to $30 mile 16.3

North Liberty, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+13192082154

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.82 one way

$35.65 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$19.57	$39.14
premium	$4.89	$21.94	$43.88
diesel	$5.61	$25.17	$50.34

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 39.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

14 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Hy-Vee Grocery Store - Tesla Supercharger

Cedar Rapids, IA

Tesla

8 DCFC

Hy-Vee - Tesla Supercharger

Coralville, IA

Tesla

8 DCFC

Hy-Vee Grocery Store - Tesla Supercharger

Iowa City, IA

Tesla

8 DCFC

Hy-Vee - Tesla Supercharger

Mt. Pleasant, IA

Tesla

8 DCFC

JUNGE FORD - DCFC

North Liberty, IA

Blink Network

6 DCFC

McGrath Auto

Hiawatha, IA

Blink Network

4 DCFC

McGrath Hyundai Hiawatha - DCFC

Hiawatha, IA

Blink Network

4 DCFC

Iowa City Kum and Go

Iowa City, IA

CHARGELAB

4 DCFC

Blink Network: 4 Tesla: 4 CHARGELAB: 3 ChargePoint Network: 2 EV Connect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	34.2	$11.97	$5.47
Efficient EV	28.5	$9.98	$4.56
EV Truck/SUV	45.6	$15.96	$7.30

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 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 15, 2026

Origin

Cedar Rapids, IA

Morning in Cedar Rapids on Saturday

Local time

10:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Madison, IA

Morning in Fort Madison on Saturday

Local time

10:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Washington, IA

57 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

24 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 17m 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 Fort Madison, IA covers 114 miles and takes about 2h 17m 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 2, Avenue O. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 57 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 $17.82 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 2h 17m drive. You will face about 11 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 Fort Madison, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Fort Madison, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

113.8 mi 2h 17m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.

Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Fort Madison, IA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Fort Madison, IA

Nearby Places

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

Kismet Coffee & Bloom

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

Subway

Steak 'n Shake

Red Lobster

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

HuHot Mongolian Grill

Red Lobster

HuHot Mongolian Grill

Kismet Coffee & Bloom

Groundswell Cafe

Veritas Cafe

Café Saint Pio

Roasters Coffeehouse NewBo

Midnight Coffee

Opus Concert Cafe

Hyper Energy Bar

Tesla Supercharger

Blink Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

EV Connect Charging Station

Shell Recharge Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Caramelcorn Shoppe/Smoothie Stop

Bistro at Blooms

Barrel House

Field Day Brewing Co.

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Cedar Rapids, IA

Fort Madison, IA

Same local time

24 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 17m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Fort Madison, IA?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How hard is the drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Fort Madison, IA?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Cedar Rapids, IA to Fort Madison, IA?

How this page is built

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