Origin
Dubuque, IA
Night in Dubuque on Wednesday
Local time
9:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dubuque, IA to Cedar Falls, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h
Distance
99.7 mi
160 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 52m
★
6 AM
2h 1m
8 AM
2h 18m
10 AM
2h 7m
12 PM
2h 5m
3 PM
2h 8m
5 PM
2h 17m
8 PM
1h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 99.7-mile trip from Dubuque, IA, to Cedar Falls, IA, is easily manageable as a single-day adventure, taking approximately 2 hours to complete. The journey primarily utilizes Dodge Street and Avenue of the Saints, with a portion on IA 58, offering a blend of highway and local driving. With a projected fuel cost of around $16, this route is quite budget-friendly for a day trip. The drive is characterized by a turn-heavy local feel, suggesting you'll be navigating more city streets and varied road conditions rather than a continuous interstate cruise. Given its relatively short duration, it's ideal for a quick getaway within the Midwest.
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
49.8 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 99.7-mile stretch. While you'll encounter about 13% highway driving, the majority of your time will be on local roads, including the significant 87-mile segment on Dodge Street. This suggests a driving experience that is more engaged, with frequent changes in speed limits and road direction. It’s not a monotonous interstate grind, but rather a route where you'll be actively navigating through varied environments. The road character will likely shift as you progress, transitioning from city approaches to potentially more open local routes.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dodge Street is the longest continuous segment at about 87 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.6 miles (IA 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward US 61 South, US 151 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 189A
Toward US 61 South, US 151 South
5
94.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
IA 27
Take the exit onto IA 27 toward IA 27, IA 58 North: Cedar Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 27, IA 58 North: Cedar Falls
5
94.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
94.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
IA 58
Turn right onto IA 58
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
98.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward 18th Street, Waterloo Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 184
Toward 18th Street, Waterloo Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dodge Street | 87 mi | 1h 43m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 6.9 mi | 7m |
| IA 58 | 4 mi | 5m |
| Waterloo Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| IA 27 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Locust Street Conn | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Central Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Dodge Street
— 87 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and Cedar Falls, IA.
1
Start on Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Central Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 189A
Toward US 61 South, US 151 South
3
Turn right onto IA 946
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Locust Street Conn
4
Turn right onto US 20
87 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
Dodge Street
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
6
Take the exit onto IA 27
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
IA 27
Toward IA 27, IA 58 North: Cedar Falls
7
Keep slight left at fork
260 ft
·
8 sec
8
Turn right onto IA 58
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
IA 58
Use the left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 184
Toward 18th Street, Waterloo Road
10
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
this road
Toward Waterloo Road
11
Turn left onto Waterloo Road
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Waterloo Road
12
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
15 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
13
Continue on Main Street
21 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
With a 2-hour drive time and 99.7 miles to cover, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. You can depart Dubuque at your leisure, perhaps after a morning coffee, and still arrive in Cedar Falls with plenty of daylight. Given the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, be mindful of your navigation and keep an eye on road signs, especially as you transition between Dodge Street, Avenue of the Saints, and IA 58. With a fuel cost estimate of $16, you won't need to make frequent fuel stops, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 87 miles on Dodge Street, so plan for any necessary breaks before or after that segment.
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 49.8 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87 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 22 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.8 miles or 1h 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Falls, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dubuque, 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 Dubuque, IA
This is one driving day of about 99.7 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Dubuque, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dodge Street for about 87 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49.8 mi from Dubuque, IA · 1h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.8 miles from Dubuque, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dodge Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87 miles.
Arriving in Cedar Falls, IA
The final approach into Cedar Falls, 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 Falls, 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
$15.59 one way
$31.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.11 | $34.23 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.19 | $38.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.01 | $44.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.9 | 0 | $10.47 | $4.79 |
| Efficient EV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.72 | $3.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.96 | $6.38 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Cedar Falls, IA
Night in Cedar Falls on Wednesday
Local time
9:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Manchester, IA
50 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
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 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 Dubuque, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 99.7 miles and takes about 2h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dodge Street, Avenue of the Saints, IA 58. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.8 miles from Dubuque, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.59 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 is a straightforward 2h drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.6 miles (IA 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Dubuque, IA to Cedar Falls, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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