Origin
Dallas Center, IA
Late night in Dallas Center on Saturday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dallas Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 22m
Distance
138.2 mi
222 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 12m
★
6 AM
2h 22m
8 AM
2h 42m
10 AM
2h 29m
12 PM
2h 27m
3 PM
2h 30m
5 PM
2h 41m
8 PM
2h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas Center, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Dallas Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 138.2 miles and takes about 2h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 14th Street, Sugar Grove Avenue, 240th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.52 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.
Midpoint
69.1 miles from Dallas Center, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 22m. Total distance: 138.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 22m drive with frequent turns across 138.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
14th 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Dallas Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is easy. At 2h 22m 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 Dallas Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 14th Street | — | — |
| Sugar Grove Avenue | — | — |
| 240th Street | — | — |
| West 1st Street | — | — |
| East 1st Street | — | — |
| Grimes Boulevard | — | — |
| Southeast Grimes Boulevard | — | — |
| Northwest Urbandale Drive | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
14th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas Center, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on Walnut Street
33 ft
·
6 sec
·
Walnut Street
2
Turn right onto 14th Street
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
14th Street
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto Sugar Grove Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Sugar Grove Avenue
4
Continue on 240th Street
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
240th Street
5
Continue on West 1st Street
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
West 1st Street
6
Continue on East 1st Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East 1st Street
7
Take the ramp right
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
8
Merge slight left onto Grimes Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
9
Continue on Southeast Grimes Boulevard
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
10
Continue on Northwest Urbandale Drive
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Northwest Urbandale Drive
11
Turn left onto I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
12
Merge slight left
7.9 mi
·
9 min
13
Continue straight
0.7 mi
·
51 sec
14
Continue straight
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
15
Keep slight left
4.5 mi
·
5 min
16
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
17
Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
18
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road
33 mi
·
39 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
19
Take the exit right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
20
Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway
37 mi
·
42 min
·
Lincoln Highway
21
Continue on 73rd Street
27 mi
·
30 min
·
73rd Street
22
Take the exit slight right toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
23
Continue straight
8.3 mi
·
9 min
24
Take the exit slight right toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
25
Keep slight right to continue on I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
26
Keep slight left to continue on I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
27
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
Avenue of the Saints
28
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
29
Keep slight left
121 ft
·
5 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
·
8 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
33
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
427 ft
·
19 sec
·
Tiperary Drive Northeast
34
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 69.1 miles from Dallas Center, IA, or about 1h 11m 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 30 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.1 miles or 1h 11m 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 56m
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 138.2 miles and 2h 22m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.1 mi from Dallas Center, IA · 1h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.1 miles from Dallas Center, 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
$20.52 one way
$41.04 round trip
$3.77/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $23.14 | $46.28 |
| premium | $4.65 | $25.32 | $50.64 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $28.86 | $57.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.5 | 0 | $14.51 | $6.63 |
| Efficient EV | 34.6 | 0 | $12.09 | $5.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.3 | 0 | $19.35 | $8.84 |
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.
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
5:22 AM
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
2 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
2h 22m 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 Dallas Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 138.2 miles and takes about 2h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 14th Street, Sugar Grove Avenue, 240th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.1 miles from Dallas Center, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.52 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 Dallas Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is easy. At 2h 22m 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 Dallas Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Dallas Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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