Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Independence, IA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

48m

Distance

37.8 mi

61 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min

4 AM

0h 44m ★

6 AM

0h 48m

8 AM

0h 56m

10 AM

0h 51m

12 PM

0h 50m

3 PM

0h 51m

5 PM

0h 56m

8 PM

0h 46m

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 Independence, IA covers 37.8 miles and takes about 48m 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 $5.91 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 37.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 48m drive with frequent turns across 37.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 12 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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Independence, IA is easy. At 48m 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 Independence, 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 150	—	—
31st Avenue	—	—
Jamestown Avenue	—	—
3rd Avenue Southeast	—	—
1st Street East	—	—

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 Independence, 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

20 mi · 22 min · Avenue of the Saints

6

Take the exit slight right toward IA 150: Independence, Vinton

0.4 mi · 50 sec · IA 150: Independence, Vinton

7

Turn right onto 31st Avenue

3.6 mi · 4 min · 31st Avenue

8

Continue on Jamestown Avenue

10 mi · 14 min · Jamestown Avenue

9

Continue on 3rd Avenue Southeast

1.4 mi · 2 min · 3rd Avenue Southeast

10

Turn right onto 1st Street East

0.1 mi · 15 sec · 1st Street East

11

Turn right onto 5th Avenue Southeast

43 ft · 2 sec · 5th Avenue Southeast

12

Arrive at your destination

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 18.9 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA · 24m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Center Point, IA

19 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

Jesup, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Center Point, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.9 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Independence, IA

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Independence, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.91 one way

$11.82 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$6.49	$12.98
premium	$4.89	$7.27	$14.55
diesel	$5.61	$8.35	$16.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	11.3	$3.97	$1.81
Efficient EV	9.5	$3.31	$1.51
EV Truck/SUV	15.1	$5.29	$2.42

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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

Night in Cedar Rapids on Thursday

Local time

9:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Independence, IA

Night in Independence on Thursday

Local time

9:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Center Point, IA

19 mi in

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

21 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

48m 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 Independence, IA covers 37.8 miles and takes about 48m 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 18.9 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 $5.91 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.

The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Independence, IA is easy. At 48m 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 Independence, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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

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