Origin
Grimes, IA
Late night in Grimes on Saturday
Local time
1:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Grimes, IA to Cedar Falls, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 32m
Distance
115.6 mi
186 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 22m
★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 40m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 41m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grimes, IA
Alexander Krivitskiy
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Grimes, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 115.6 miles and takes about 2h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Northeast Hubbell Road, Sanford Avenue, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.2 miles on Northeast Hubbell Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.07 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
57.8 miles from Grimes, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 115.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 32m drive with frequent turns across 115.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northeast Hubbell Road is the longest continuous segment at about 35.2 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 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 115.6 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 3.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
3.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Dave...
5
4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 80; I 35
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
13.3 mi into trip
|
~18m 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
17.8 mi into trip
|
~23m 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
114.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m 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 Grimes, IA and Cedar Falls, IA, road signs point toward Bondurant and Cr D18: Cedar Falls.
Bondurant
17.8 mi in
|
~23m
|
via US 65
Cr D18: Cedar Falls
107.9 mi in
|
~2h 19m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Hubbell Road | 35.2 mi | 41m |
| Sanford Avenue | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| I 80 | 13 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 |
| N Avenue | 4.4 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Northeast Hubbell Road
— 35.2 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grimes, IA and Cedar Falls, IA.
1
Start on Southeast Main Street
22 ft
·
4 sec
·
Southeast Main Street
2
Turn right onto IA 44
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1st Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
4
Merge onto IA 141
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
5
Continue on IA 141
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on IA 141
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Northwest Urbandale Drive
7
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
8
Merge onto I 80; I 35
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
I 80; I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35; I 80
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 35; I 80
10
Continue on I 80; I 35
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 80; I 35
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 80
Use the slight left lane.
12
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 65
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
14
Continue on US 65; IA 330
35 mi
·
41 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
15
Turn left onto IA 330
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
16
Continue on IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
17
Continue on IA 330
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
18
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
19
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
20
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
21
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
22
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
23
Turn left onto IA 14
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
24
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
25
Merge onto US 20
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US 20
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward CR D18: Cedar Falls
27
Turn left onto Grundy Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Grundy Road
28
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
University Avenue
29
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
88 ft
·
1 sec
·
University Avenue
30
Continue on University Avenue
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
University Avenue
31
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Main Street
32
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
77 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
33
Continue on Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
34
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
74 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
35
Continue on Main Street
21 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
36
Arrive at destination
Main Street
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 57.8 miles from Grimes, IA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.2 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 25 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.8 miles or 1h 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 2h 4m
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 Grimes, 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 Grimes, IA
This is one driving day of about 115.6 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Grimes, 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 Northeast Hubbell Road for about 35.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.8 mi from Grimes, IA · 1h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.8 miles from Grimes, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$18.07 one way
$36.15 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.84 | $39.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.25 | $44.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.52 | $51.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.7 | 0 | $12.14 | $5.55 |
| Efficient EV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.11 | $4.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.2 | 0 | $16.18 | $7.40 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (65% 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
Late night in Cedar Falls on Saturday
Local time
1:13 AM
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
1 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 32m 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 Grimes, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 115.6 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northeast Hubbell Road, Sanford Avenue, I 80. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.8 miles from Grimes, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.07 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 115.6 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 3.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Grimes, IA and Cedar Falls, IA, road signs point toward Bondurant and Cr D18: Cedar Falls.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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