Conrad, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is 83.3 miles and takes about 1h 46m via 73rd Street, Lincoln Highway, and Wallace Avenue, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a local drive with frequent turns rather than a straight shot, making it a good option for a more engaging, less monotonous journey. With a drive time under two hours, this route is easily manageable for a single day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.6 miles from Conrad, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 83.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 10% of the journey on highways. You'll spend most of your time navigating local roads like 73rd Street, Lincoln Highway, and Wallace Avenue. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 26.8 miles on 73rd Street, so be prepared for frequent adjustments to your steering and speed. This type of driving can be more engaging than a monotonous interstate cruise, offering a more intimate feel of the Iowa landscape as you pass through towns and rural areas.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
73rd Street is the longest continuous segment at about 26.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 71.1 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 71.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
71.1 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
5
80.4 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
7
80.6 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
7
80.8 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
5
81.8 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
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 Conrad, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marion along the way.
Marion
71.1 mi in|~1h 29m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
Lincoln Highway
24.7 mi
28m
Wallace Avenue
10.8 mi
14m
IA 100
8.3 mi
9m
Zeller Avenue
2.7 mi
4m
Main Street Road
2.2 mi
3m
330th Street
2 mi
2m
32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
73rd Street
— 26.8 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Conrad, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on North Main Street
74 ft·7 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR D67
0.5 mi·54 sec·East Center Street
3
Continue on CR D67
2.0 mi·2 min·330th Street
4
Turn right onto CR T29
0.5 mi·1 min·Center Street
5
Continue on CR T29
0.5 mi·39 sec·Kave Avenue
6
Continue on CR T29
11 mi·14 min·Wallace Avenue
7
Continue on Main Street Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Main Street Road
8
Turn right onto Zeller Avenue
2.7 mi·4 min·Zeller Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·1 min
10
Merge onto US 30
25 mi·28 min·Lincoln Highway
11
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
12
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
13
Continue on IA 100
8.3 mi·9 min·IA 100
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
17
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
0.5 mi·38 sec·Avenue of the Saints
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
19
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
20
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
21
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
22
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
23
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
24
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 46 minutes, this route offers significant flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps after a leisurely morning, and still arrive with plenty of daylight. Since the longest stretch is under 30 miles, you won't need to worry about extended periods without fuel stops. Keep an eye on your navigation as you'll be making several turns on local roads; a GPS or reliable map app is recommended to ensure you stay on track for the 83.3-mile journey. The estimated fuel cost of $13 suggests this is an economical trip, so you can focus on enjoying the drive.
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 41.6 miles from Conrad, IA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.8 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 18 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.6 miles or 55m 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 28m
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 Conrad, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Conrad, IA
This is one driving day of about 83.3 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Conrad, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on 73rd Street for about 26.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.6 mi from Conrad, IA
· 55m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25
0
$8.75
$4.00
Efficient EV
20.8
0
$7.29
$3.33
EV Truck/SUV
33.3
0
$11.66
$5.33
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Conrad, IA
Late night
in Conrad on Saturday
Local time
2:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
2:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Belle Plaine, IA
42 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
1 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 46m 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 Conrad, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 83.3 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 73rd Street, Lincoln Highway, Wallace Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.6 miles from Conrad, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.02 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 83.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 71.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Conrad, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marion along the way.
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.
