Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
103.8 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
Photo: Thomas Parker
The drive from Charles City, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 103.8 miles and takes about 1h 40m 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 $15.41 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
51.9 miles from Charles City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 40m drive with frequent turns across 103.8 miles of local and secondary 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 |
| US 218 south | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Washington Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Charles City, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
Start on 4th Avenue
Continue on Brantingham Street
Turn left onto Gilbert Street
Continue on South Grand Avenue
Continue on Shadow Avenue
Take the ramp left
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
Take the exit slight right toward US 218 south: Waterloo
Continue on US 218 south: Waterloo
Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway
Continue on Washington Street
Keep slight right to continue on I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints
Take the exit slight right
Keep slight left
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.9 miles or 50m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Rapids, IA than in the middle of the route.
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 103.8 miles and 1h 40m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.9 mi from Charles City, IA · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 51.9 miles from Charles City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Cedar Rapids, 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 Rapids, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$15.41 one way
$30.82 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $17.38 | $34.76 |
| premium | $4.65 | $19.02 | $38.04 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $21.68 | $43.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.1 | 0 | $10.90 | $4.98 |
| Efficient EV | 26 | 0 | $9.08 | $4.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.5 | 0 | $14.53 | $6.64 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Charles City on Saturday
Local time
7:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
7:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
52 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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