Trip from Columbus Junction, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

Drive Time

1h 3m

Distance

63.1 mi

102 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min

4 AM

0h 59m ★

6 AM

1h 4m

8 AM

1h 14m

10 AM

1h 7m

12 PM

1h 6m

3 PM

1h 8m

5 PM

1h 14m

8 PM

1h 1m

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 Columbus Junction, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 63.1 miles and takes about 1h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Western Access Road, Oak Street, Highway 92 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.58 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

31.5 miles from Columbus Junction, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 31m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 3m drive with frequent turns across 63.1 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.

Western Access Road 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 Columbus Junction, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is easy. At 1h 3m 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 Columbus Junction, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Western Access Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
Oak Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Highway 92	Unavailable	Refreshing
Avenue of the Saints	Unavailable	Refreshing
Glass Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
29th Street Northeast	Unavailable	Refreshing
Oakland Road Northeast	Unavailable	Refreshing
32nd Street Northeast	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Western Access Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbus Junction, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.

1

Start on Walnut Street

0.3 mi · 54 sec · Walnut Street

2

Keep slight left to continue on Western Access Road

0.1 mi · 34 sec · Western Access Road

3

Turn straight onto Oak Street

417 ft · 7 sec · Oak Street

4

Continue on State Highway 92

8.6 mi · 12 min · State Highway 92

5

Take the ramp left

0.3 mi · 43 sec

6

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

52 mi · 59 min · Avenue of the Saints

7

Take the exit slight right toward Glass Road, 32nd Street, Coldstream, 29th Street

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Glass Road, 32nd Street, Coldstream, 29th Street

8

Keep slight right

318 ft · 9 sec

9

Turn straight onto 29th Street Northeast

0.3 mi · 36 sec · 29th Street Northeast

10

Turn left onto Oakland Road Northeast

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Oakland Road Northeast

11

Turn right onto 32nd Street Northeast

0.8 mi · 1 min · 32nd Street Northeast

12

Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast

184 ft · 10 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast

13

Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast

177 ft · 8 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast

14

Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast

427 ft · 19 sec · Tiperary Drive Northeast

15

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 31.5 miles from Columbus Junction, IA, or about 31m 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 63.1 miles or 1h 3m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 31.5 miles or 31m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 54m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Rapids, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Columbus Junction, 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 Columbus Junction, IA

This is one driving day of about 63.1 miles and 1h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Columbus Junction, 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 31.5 mi from Columbus Junction, IA · 31m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Iowa City, IA

32 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.

Popular next leg

Iowa City, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

30.9 mi · 42m

Pacing Suggestions

Marion, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 63.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Iowa City, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.5 miles from Columbus Junction, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Cedar Rapids, IA

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.58 one way

$19.17 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$10.57	$21.13
premium	$4.80	$11.91	$23.82
diesel	$5.64	$14.02	$28.04

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	18.9	$6.63	$3.03
Efficient EV	15.8	$5.52	$2.52
EV Truck/SUV	25.2	$8.83	$4.04

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Columbus Junction, IA

Evening in Columbus Junction on Sunday

Local time

5:14 PM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cedar Rapids, IA

Evening in Cedar Rapids on Sunday

Local time

5:14 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°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

8 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

1h 3m 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 Columbus Junction, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 63.1 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Western Access Road, Oak Street, Highway 92. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 31.5 miles from Columbus Junction, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.58 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 Columbus Junction, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is easy. At 1h 3m 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 Columbus Junction, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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