The drive from De Soto, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 143.5 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, I 80 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37 miles on Lincoln Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.43 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
71.8 miles from De Soto, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 143.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 51m drive with frequent turns across 143.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lincoln Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 37 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 13.2 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 143.5 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 13.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
13.2 mi into trip|~15m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
27.6 mi into trip|~32m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
32.1 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
140.9 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
141.1 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between De Soto, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Bondurant and Marion.
Minneapolis
13.2 mi in|~15m|via I 80
Kansas City
13.2 mi in|~15m|via I 80
Bondurant
32.1 mi in|~37m|via US 65
Marion
131.4 mi in|~2h 34m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
37 mi
42m
Northeast Hubbell Road
33.5 mi
39m
I 80
31 mi
35m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
IA 100
8.3 mi
9m
32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
1.2 mi
1m
Avenue of the Saints
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 37 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between De Soto, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on Maple Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Maple Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 169
0.5 mi·53 sec·Guthrie Street
3
Take the ramp onto US 6
0.4 mi·49 sec·US 6
4
Merge onto I 80
12 mi·13 min·I 80
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi·5 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi·1 min·US 65
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
9
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
11
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
12
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
13
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
14
Continue on IA 100
8.3 mi·9 min·IA 100
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
18
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
0.5 mi·38 sec·Avenue of the Saints
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
20
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
21
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
22
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
23
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
24
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
25
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.8 miles from De Soto, IA, or about 1h 25m 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 32 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.8 miles or 1h 25m 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 18m
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 De Soto, 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 De Soto, IA
This is one driving day of about 143.5 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from De Soto, 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71.8 mi from De Soto, IA
· 1h 25m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.43 one way
$44.87 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.63
$49.26
premium
$4.89
$27.62
$55.23
diesel
$5.61
$31.68
$63.37
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: 50.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.1
0
$15.07
$6.89
Efficient EV
35.9
0
$12.56
$5.74
EV Truck/SUV
57.4
0
$20.09
$9.18
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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
De Soto, IA
Afternoon
in De Soto on Friday
Local time
12:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Afternoon
in Cedar Rapids on Friday
Local time
12:50 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
3 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 51m 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 De Soto, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 143.5 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, I 80. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.8 miles from De Soto, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.43 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 143.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between De Soto, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Bondurant and Marion.
