Dallas Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is 138.3 miles and takes about 2h 51m via Lincoln Highway, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest's heartland. Expect a local, turn-heavy experience rather than a high-speed interstate journey. With just one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this trip is easily manageable within a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick transition between these two Iowa communities.
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
69.2 miles from Dallas Center, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
37 mi
42m
Northeast Hubbell Road
33.5 mi
39m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
I 80
13 mi
14m
IA 100
8.3 mi
9m
240th Street
5.4 mi
7m
West 1st Street
2.7 mi
4m
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 37 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas Center, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
18
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
20
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
21
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
22
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
23
Continue on IA 100
8.3 mi·9 min·IA 100
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
27
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
0.5 mi·38 sec·Avenue of the Saints
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
29
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
30
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
31
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
32
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
33
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
34
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 51m estimated drive time, departing in the morning allows ample time to reach Cedar Rapids without feeling rushed. While only one stop is suggested, the drive's flexibility means you can pause more frequently if desired, especially since it's a single-day trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as longer stretches on local roads might mean fewer services. A practical tip for this route: pay close attention to signage for Lincoln Highway, as it's a primary, though not always high-speed, corridor for a significant portion of your 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.2 miles from Dallas Center, IA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37 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 30 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.2 miles or 1h 28m 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 19m
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 Dallas Center, 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 Dallas Center, IA
This is one driving day of about 138.3 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Dallas Center, 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 Lincoln Highway for about 37 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.7 and 135.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
12.7 mi into trip|~20m in
Turn left toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
26.8 mi into trip|~37m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
7
135.7 mi into trip|~2h 46m 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
135.8 mi into trip|~2h 46m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.62 one way
$43.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.74
$47.48
premium
$4.89
$26.61
$53.23
diesel
$5.61
$30.53
$61.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.5
0
$14.52
$6.64
Efficient EV
34.6
0
$12.10
$5.53
EV Truck/SUV
55.3
0
$19.36
$8.85
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Dallas Center, IA
Afternoon
in Dallas Center on Saturday
Local time
1:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Mostly Clear
NW 16 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Afternoon
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
1:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
15 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
2h 51m 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 route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with only 16% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time navigating local roads, including stretches of Lincoln Highway and Northeast Hubbell Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 37 miles on Lincoln Highway. Be prepared for frequent changes in direction and a more intimate connection with the landscape as you travel these less-traveled roads.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 12.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 138.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.8 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Between Dallas Center, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Davenport, Bondurant and Marion.
Davenport
12.7 mi in|~20m
Bondurant
26.8 mi in|~37m|via US 65
Marion
126.2 mi in|~2h 34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 138.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37 miles on Lincoln Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cedar Rapids, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.8 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cedar Rapids, IA before heading back.
