Origin
Charles City, IA
Afternoon in Charles City on Sunday
Local time
2:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charles City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA
Drive Time
44m
Distance
45.4 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charles City, IA
Phil Evenden
Cedar Falls, IA
Chris F
Trip Overview
The drive from Charles City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 45.4 miles and takes about 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Brantingham Street, Gilbert Street, South Grand Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.90 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
22.7 miles from Charles City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 44m drive with frequent turns across 45.4 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.
Brantingham Street 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 Charles City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is easy. At 44m 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 Charles City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Brantingham Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gilbert Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Grand Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Shadow Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Avenue of the Saints | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Waterloo Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Brantingham Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charles City, IA and Cedar Falls, IA.
1
Start on 4th Avenue
30 ft
·
3 sec
·
4th Avenue
2
Continue on Brantingham Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Brantingham Street
3
Turn left onto Gilbert Street
384 ft
·
11 sec
·
Gilbert Street
4
Continue on South Grand Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Grand Avenue
5
Continue on Shadow Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Shadow Avenue
6
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
7
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
42 mi
·
48 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
8
Take the exit slight right toward Waterloo Road, 18th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Waterloo Road, 18th Street
9
Turn right onto Waterloo Road
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Waterloo Road
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Main Street
16 ft
·
Main Street
11
Exit the roundabout onto Main Street
20 ft
·
Main Street
12
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 22.7 miles from Charles City, IA, or about 22m 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 45.4 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.7 miles or 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 37m
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 Charles City, 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 Charles City, IA
This is one driving day of about 45.4 miles and 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Charles City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.7 mi from Charles City, IA · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 45.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.7 miles from Charles City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cedar Falls, IA
The final approach into Cedar Falls, 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 Cedar Falls, 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
$6.90 one way
$13.79 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $7.60 | $15.20 |
| premium | $4.80 | $8.57 | $17.14 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.09 | $20.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.97 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.36 | $2.91 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Cedar Falls, IA
Afternoon in Cedar Falls on Sunday
Local time
2:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
23 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
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
44m 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 Charles City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 45.4 miles and takes about 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Brantingham Street, Gilbert Street, South Grand Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.7 miles from Charles City, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.90 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 Charles City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is easy. At 44m 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 Charles City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Charles City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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