The drive from Glenwood, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 252.6 miles and takes about 5h behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, Northeast Hubbell Road, Sanford Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 137.1 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
126.3 miles from Glenwood, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h. Total distance: 252.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This is a 5h highway drive covering 252.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and Northeast Hubbell Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 137.1 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 137.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Northeast Hubbell Road. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 252.6 miles you will encounter 21 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 17 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 135.8 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
17 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 48A
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
9
135.8 mi into trip|~2h 29m 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
150.3 mi into trip|~2h 45m 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
154.7 mi into trip|~2h 51m 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...
6
251.7 mi into trip|~4h 58m in|Main Street
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Glenwood, IA and Cedar Falls, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City and Bondurant.
Minneapolis
135.8 mi in|~2h 29m|via I 80
Kansas City
135.8 mi in|~2h 29m|via I 80
Bondurant
154.7 mi in|~2h 51m|via US 65
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
137.1 mi
2h 28m
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi
41m
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi
21m
US 275
13.1 mi
14m
US 20
11.2 mi
12m
240th Street
6.3 mi
9m
Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
8m
University Avenue
5.3 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 137.1 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glenwood, IA and Cedar Falls, IA.
1
Start on this road
205 ft·16 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto North Vine Street
139 ft·10 sec·North Vine Street
3
Turn right onto CR H30
0.6 mi·1 min·Sharp Street
4
Continue on Hilman Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Hilman Road
5
Turn right onto US 34; US 275
2.4 mi·3 min·US 34; US 275
6
Take the ramp onto US 275
13 mi·14 min·US 275
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·45 sec
Exit 48AToward I 80 East: Des Moines
8
Continue on I 80; US 6
118 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 80; US 6
Use the straight lane.
9
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.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi·5 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
11
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.
12
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
13
Continue on US 65; IA 330
35 mi·41 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
14
Turn left onto IA 330
5.9 mi·8 min·Marsh Avenue
15
Continue on IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·South Main Street
16
Continue on IA 330
4.3 mi·5 min·160th Street
17
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi·21 min·Sanford Avenue
18
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi·9 min·240th Street
19
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·M Avenue
20
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road T37
21
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·210th Street
22
Turn left onto IA 14
4.4 mi·6 min·N Avenue
23
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
24
Merge onto US 20
11 mi·12 min·US 20
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward CR D18: Cedar Falls
26
Turn left onto Grundy Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Grundy Road
27
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi·4 min·University Avenue
28
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
88 ft·1 sec·University Avenue
29
Continue on University Avenue
1.7 mi·3 min·University Avenue
30
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Main Street
31
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
77 ft·1 sec·Main Street
32
Continue on Main Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
33
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
74 ft·1 sec·Main Street
34
Continue on Main Street
21 ft·0 sec·Main Street
35
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 126.3 miles from Glenwood, IA, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.1 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 56 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.3 miles or 2h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 57m
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 Glenwood, 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 Glenwood, IA
This is one driving day of about 252.6 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Glenwood, 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 I 80 for about 137.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 126.3 mi from Glenwood, IA
· 2h 18m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.49 one way
$78.98 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$43.36
$86.72
premium
$4.89
$48.61
$97.22
diesel
$5.61
$55.77
$111.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.8
0
$26.52
$12.12
Efficient EV
63.2
0
$22.10
$10.10
EV Truck/SUV
101
1
$35.36
$16.17
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Glenwood, IA
Evening
in Glenwood on Friday
Local time
5:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Falls, IA
Evening
in Cedar Falls on Friday
Local time
5:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
26 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
5h on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Glenwood, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 252.6 miles and takes about 5h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Northeast Hubbell Road, Sanford Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 126.3 miles from Glenwood, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.49 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 252.6 miles you will encounter 21 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 17 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 135.8 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Glenwood, IA and Cedar Falls, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City and Bondurant.
