Centerville, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is 147.3 miles and takes about 3h 39m via US 63, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving north through the Midwest. Expect a mixed drive with about 40% highway travel, making it a straightforward journey for a single day. Given its manageable length and duration, this route is well-suited for a quick trip or an easy addition to a larger Midwest adventure.
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
73.7 miles from Centerville, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 63
43.8 mi
1h 2m
East Market Street
22 mi
32m
North 18th Street
20.7 mi
30m
J Avenue
18 mi
26m
State Highway 137
14.5 mi
21m
100th Street
8 mi
11m
South Hudson Road
7.3 mi
11m
120th Street
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 43.8 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Centerville, IA and Cedar Falls, IA.
1
Start on North 13th Street
164 ft·7 sec·North 13th Street
2
Continue on North 13th Street
289 ft·22 sec·North 13th Street
3
Turn right onto East State Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East State Street
4
Turn left onto IA 5
21 mi·30 min·North 18th Street
5
Continue on IA 5
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
6
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 137
14 mi·21 min·State Highway 137
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
8
Merge onto US 63; IA 163
7.5 mi·8 min·US 63; IA 163
9
Take the exit onto US 63
15 mi·23 min·US 63
Toward US 63 North: Oskaloosa, New Sharon
10
Turn right onto US 63
22 mi·32 min·East Market Street
11
Continue on US 63
2.3 mi·3 min·120th Street
12
Turn left onto US 6; US 63
2.0 mi·2 min·380th Avenue
13
Turn right onto US 63
8.0 mi·11 min·100th Street
14
Continue on US 63
6.3 mi·9 min·J Avenue
15
Continue on US 63
1.5 mi·2 min·State Street
16
Turn left onto US 63
0.3 mi·24 sec·West 13th Street
17
Turn right onto US 63
0.4 mi·37 sec·Harding Street
18
Continue on US 63
1.8 mi·2 min·South County Road
19
Continue on US 63
12 mi·17 min·J Avenue
20
At end of road, turn right onto US 63
21 mi·30 min·US 63
21
Turn left onto IA 58
7.3 mi·11 min·South Hudson Road
22
Turn right onto Greenhill Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Greenhill Road
23
Turn left onto IA 27; IA 58
1.5 mi·1 min·Avenue of the Saints
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 184Toward 18th Street, Waterloo Road
25
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·28 sec·this road
Toward Waterloo Road
26
Turn left onto Waterloo Road
0.4 mi·45 sec·Waterloo Road
27
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
15 ft·0 sec·Main Street
28
Continue on Main Street
21 ft·0 sec·Main Street
29
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 147.3-mile trip, consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight. The 3h 39m duration means you can comfortably complete this drive in one day, and the $23 fuel estimate should cover your needs. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye out as you transition between highway and local roads, particularly on sections of US 63, to ensure smooth navigation. The longest stretch is under 45 miles, so you won't be on a single road for an excessive amount of time.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.7 miles from Centerville, IA, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.8 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 32 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.7 miles or 1h 49m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Falls, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Centerville, 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 Centerville, IA
This is one driving day of about 147.3 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Centerville, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 63 for about 43.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 105.2
Tama, Iowa
Hours: 11 am–1:45 pm
+16414817332
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 146.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East State Street
Turn right onto East State Street
Navigation decision point
4
21.9 mi into trip|~33m in|IA 137 / State Highway 137
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 137 / State Highway 137
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
44.4 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|US 63
Take the exit onto US 63 toward US 63 North: Oskaloosa, New Sharon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 63 North: Oskaloosa, New Sharon
5
115.8 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|US 63
At end of road, turn right onto US 63
Navigation decision point
6
146.5 mi into trip|~3h 37m in
Take the exit toward 18th Street, Waterloo Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 184
Toward 18th Street, Waterloo Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.19 one way
$46.37 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.46
$50.91
premium
$4.89
$28.54
$57.08
diesel
$5.61
$32.74
$65.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
3 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
110 S D Street
Oskaloosa, IA
CHARGELAB
4 DCFC
Bill Colwell Ford
Hudson, IA
FORD_CHARGE
4 DCFC
COMMUNITY MOTOR CO. INC
CEDAR FALLS, IA
EV Connect
1 DCFC
CHARGELAB: 1
FORD_CHARGE: 1
EV Connect: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.2
0
$15.47
$7.07
Efficient EV
36.8
0
$12.89
$5.89
EV Truck/SUV
58.9
0
$20.62
$9.43
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 18, 2026
Origin
Centerville, IA
Afternoon
in Centerville on Saturday
Local time
3:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Falls, IA
Afternoon
in Cedar Falls on Saturday
Local time
3:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Sunny
WNW 16 to 22 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:33AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
50°F
Brooklyn, IA
74 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 39m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed experience, with roughly 40% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on US 63, East Market Street, and North 18th Street. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 43.8 miles, primarily on US 63. This suggests a blend of faster-paced highway driving interspersed with more local road sections, offering a dynamic feel as you travel north.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 63 is the longest continuous segment at about 43.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East State Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 39m drive. You will face about 16 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 (East State Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (IA 137 / State Highway 137): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 44.4 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Centerville, IA to Cedar Falls, IA, road signs begin pointing toward New Sharon along the way.
New Sharon
44.4 mi in|~1h 4m|via US 63
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 39m. Total distance: 147.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Centerville, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 147.3 miles and takes about 3h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 63, East Market Street, North 18th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.7 miles from Centerville, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.03 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 39m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East State Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (IA 137 / State Highway 137): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 44.4 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Centerville, IA to Cedar Falls, IA, road signs begin pointing toward New Sharon along the way.
