Origin
Independence, IA
Late night in Independence on Friday
Local time
1:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Independence, IA to Cedar Falls, IA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
37m
Distance
35 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, IA
Roger Ce
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Independence, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 35 miles and takes about 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 1st Street East, 3rd Avenue Southeast, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.47 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 35 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m 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 37m drive with frequent turns across 35 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
1st Street East 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 Independence, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is easy. At 37m 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 Independence, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Street East | — | — |
| 3rd Avenue Southeast | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| IA 27 | — | — |
| 18th Street | — | — |
| Waterloo Road | — | — |
| Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
1st Street East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, IA and Cedar Falls, IA.
1
Start on 5th Avenue Southeast
43 ft
·
9 sec
·
5th Avenue Southeast
2
Turn left onto 1st Street East
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
1st Street East
3
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue Southeast
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
3rd Avenue Southeast
4
Take the ramp right
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
5
Merge slight left
21 mi
·
24 min
6
Keep slight left to continue on Avenue of the Saints
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit slight right toward IA 27, IA 58 North: Cedar Falls
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
IA 27, IA 58 North: Cedar Falls
8
Keep slight left
259 ft
·
9 sec
9
Turn right
4.0 mi
·
5 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward 18th Street, Waterloo Road
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
18th Street, Waterloo Road
11
Continue on Waterloo Road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Waterloo Road
12
Turn left onto Waterloo Road
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Waterloo Road
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Main Street
16 ft
·
Main Street
14
Exit the roundabout onto Main Street
20 ft
·
Main Street
15
Arrive at your destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.47 one way
$10.94 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.01 | $12.02 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.74 | $13.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.73 | $15.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.06 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.90 | $2.24 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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 Friday
Local time
1:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
20 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
37m 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 Independence, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 35 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 1st Street East, 3rd Avenue Southeast, Avenue of the Saints. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.5 miles from Independence, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.47 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 Independence, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is easy. At 37m 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 Independence, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Independence, IA to Cedar Falls, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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