The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to New London, IA covers 85.2 miles and takes about 1h 42m 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, US 34, 260th Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.2 miles on Avenue of the Saints.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.32 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
42.6 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 85.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 42m drive with frequent turns across 85.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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 76.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lindale Avenue Northeast.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.2 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 10 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
6
77.9 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|US 34; IA 163
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163 toward US 34 East, 163 East: Mount Pleasant, Burlington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 42
Toward US 34 East, 163 East: Mount Pleasant, Bu...
7
78.2 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|US 34; IA 163
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163 toward US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 42
Toward US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cedar Rapids, IA and New London, IA, road signs point toward 163 East: Mount Pleasant and Burlington.
163 East: Mount Pleasant
77.9 mi in|~1h 31m|via US 34; IA 163
Burlington
77.9 mi in|~1h 31m|via US 34; IA 163
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
76.2 mi
1h 27m
US 34
5.3 mi
6m
260th Street
1.4 mi
2m
29th Street Northeast
1.2 mi
2m
West Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
Lindale Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
<1m
Coldstream Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
<1m
Tiffany Drive Northeast
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 76.2 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and New London, 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
3.6 mi·4 min·Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163
0.3 mi·32 sec·US 34; IA 163
Exit 42Toward US 34 East, 163 East: Mount Pleasant, Burlington
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163
5.0 mi·6 min·US 34; IA 163
Exit 42Toward US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
11
Turn left onto 260th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·260th Street
12
Continue on West Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Main Street
13
Turn left onto North Oak Street
447 ft·24 sec·North Oak Street
14
Turn left
71 ft·5 sec
15
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 42.6 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.2 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.6 miles or 51m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New London, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cedar Rapids, IA
This is one driving day of about 85.2 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 76.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.6 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA
· 51m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.6
0
$8.95
$4.09
Efficient EV
21.3
0
$7.46
$3.41
EV Truck/SUV
34.1
0
$11.93
$5.45
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New London, IA
Late night
in New London on Saturday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
3 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
1h 42m 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 New London, IA covers 85.2 miles and takes about 1h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, US 34, 260th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.6 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 $13.32 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.2 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
Between Cedar Rapids, IA and New London, IA, road signs point toward 163 East: Mount Pleasant and Burlington.
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.
