Origin
Ely, IA
Night in Ely on Wednesday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ely, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
23m
Distance
14 mi
23 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ely, IA
Yusuf Çelik
Trip Overview
The drive from Ely, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 14 miles and takes about 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, Ely Road, State Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 5.3 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.19 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
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
7 miles from Ely, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 23m drive with frequent turns across 14 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 5.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR W6E / State Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 14 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (CR W6E / State Street): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR W6E / State Street
At end of road, turn right onto CR W6E / State Street
Navigation decision point
6
5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward US 30 west, US 151 south
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 west, US 151 south
5
6.2 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 380 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids
5
12.2 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward Glass Road, 32nd Street, Coldstream, 29th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Glass Road, 32nd Street, Coldstream, 29t...
5
12.5 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight right 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 Ely, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Coldstream along the way.
Coldstream
12.2 mi in
|
~19m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Ely Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| State Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| US 30 | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| 32nd Street Northeast | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| C Street Southwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 29th Street Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Oakland Road Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 5.3 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ely, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on Dows Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Dows Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto CR W6E
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
3
Continue on CR W6E
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Ely Road
4
Turn right onto C Street Southwest
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
C Street Southwest
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward US 30 west, US 151 south
6
Merge onto US 30; US 151
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
US 30; US 151
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 380 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids
8
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Glass Road, 32nd Street, Coldstream, 29th Street
10
Keep slight right at fork
319 ft
·
8 sec
11
Turn straight onto 29th Street Northeast
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
29th Street Northeast
12
Turn left onto Oakland Road Northeast
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Oakland Road Northeast
13
Turn right onto 32nd Street Northeast
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
32nd Street Northeast
14
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft
·
10 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
15
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft
·
7 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
16
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft
·
18 sec
·
Tiperary Drive Northeast
17
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 7 miles from Ely, IA, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.3 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 14 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 7 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Rapids, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Ely, IA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ely, IA
This is one driving day of about 14 miles and 23m.
At 14 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 5.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 7 mi from Ely, IA · 12m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 7 miles from Ely, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cedar Rapids, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Cedar Rapids, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.19 one way
$4.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.40 | $4.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.69 | $5.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.09 | $6.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
| Efficient EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.22 | $0.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Night in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
23m 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 Ely, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 14 miles and takes about 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, Ely Road, State Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7 miles from Ely, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.19 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 14 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (CR W6E / State Street): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Ely, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Coldstream along the way.
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