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Trip from Grundy Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 18m

Distance

80.5 mi

130 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 12m ★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Grundy Center, IA, IA

Grundy Center, IA

Ethan Bianco

Trip Overview

The drive from Grundy Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 80.5 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 4th Street, N Avenue, US 20 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.59 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 80.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 18m drive with frequent turns across 80.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
4th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Grundy Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is easy. At 1h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Grundy Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
4th Street
N Avenue
US 20 East
Avenue of the Saints
32nd Street Northeast
Crystal Drive Northeast
Tiperary Drive Northeast

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: 4th Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Grundy Center, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.

1

Start on G Avenue

66 ft · 6 sec · G Avenue
2

Turn left onto 4th Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · 4th Street
3

Continue on N Avenue

6.2 mi · 8 min · N Avenue
4

Take the ramp right toward US 20 East: Waterloo

0.5 mi · 58 sec · US 20 East: Waterloo
5

Merge slight left

29 mi · 33 min
6

Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints

42 mi · 45 min · Avenue of the Saints
7

Take the exit slight right

0.3 mi · 34 sec
8

Keep slight left

121 ft · 5 sec
9

Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast

1.3 mi · 2 min · 32nd Street Northeast
10

Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast

184 ft · 10 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast
11

Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast

177 ft · 8 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast
12

Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast

427 ft · 19 sec · Tiperary Drive Northeast
13

Arrive at your destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 40.2 mi from Grundy Center, IA · 39m into the drive

Downtown Elk Run Heights, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Elk Run Heights, IA

40 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

Cedar Falls, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elk Run Heights, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 40.2 miles from Grundy Center, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Cedar Rapids, IA

The final approach into Cedar Rapids, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.59 one way

$25.17 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.82 $27.64
premium $4.89 $15.49 $30.98
diesel $5.61 $17.77 $35.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$13

Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.2 0 $8.45 $3.86
Efficient EV 20.1 0 $7.04 $3.22
EV Truck/SUV 32.2 0 $11.27 $5.15

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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

Grundy Center, IA

Morning in Grundy Center on Friday

Local time

11:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cedar Rapids, IA

Morning in Cedar Rapids on Friday

Local time

11:20 AM

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

1h 18m 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 Grundy Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 80.5 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are 4th Street, N Avenue, US 20 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 40.2 miles from Grundy Center, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.59 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.

The drive from Grundy Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is easy. At 1h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Grundy Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Grundy Center, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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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