Granger, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is 135.1 miles and takes about 2h 43m via Lincoln Highway, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest from one side to the other. Expect a drive with frequent turns, so keep your navigation handy. With a recommended one-day trip, you'll have plenty of time to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
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
67.5 miles from Granger, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 135.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' with only 17% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 37 miles along the Lincoln Highway. This means you'll be navigating through local roads and intersections for a significant portion of the trip, offering a more varied driving experience than a pure interstate cruise. Be prepared for a dynamic road profile that keeps you engaged behind the wheel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 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 9.5 miles in.
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 15 significant decision points across 135.1 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 9.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.1 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.6 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 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
9.5 mi into trip|~13m in
Turn left toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
15
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
17
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
18
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
19
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
20
Continue on IA 100
8.3 mi·9 min·IA 100
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
24
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
0.5 mi·38 sec·Avenue of the Saints
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
26
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
27
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
28
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
29
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
30
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
31
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 43m estimated drive time, a morning departure from Granger, IA will allow you to reach Cedar Rapids, IA with ample daylight remaining. Since this is a one-day trip and the drive is relatively short, you have flexibility with your schedule. Plan for one main stop, perhaps midway, to stretch your legs and refuel if needed, although the $21 fuel cost suggests you won't need extensive stops. Pay close attention to your navigation, especially when transitioning between Northeast Hubbell Road and 73rd Street, as the turn-heavy nature of this route requires focus.
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 67.5 miles from Granger, IA, or about 1h 22m 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 30 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.5 miles or 1h 22m 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 12m
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 Granger, 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 Granger, IA
This is one driving day of about 135.1 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Granger, 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 67.5 mi from Granger, IA
· 1h 22m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.12 one way
$42.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.19
$46.38
premium
$4.89
$26.00
$52.00
diesel
$5.61
$29.83
$59.66
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: 47.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.5
0
$14.19
$6.48
Efficient EV
33.8
0
$11.82
$5.40
EV Truck/SUV
54
0
$18.91
$8.65
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Granger, IA
Morning
in Granger on Saturday
Local time
11:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Morning
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
11:20 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 43m 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 Granger, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 135.1 miles and takes about 2h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, 73rd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.5 miles from Granger, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.12 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 15 significant decision points across 135.1 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 9.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.1 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.6 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Granger, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Davenport, Bondurant and Marion.
