Origin
Iowa City, IA
Afternoon in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
2:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iowa City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
90.4 mi
146 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
Iowa City, IA
Tom Fisk
Cedar Falls, IA
Chris F
Trip Overview
Connecting Iowa City to Cedar Falls, this 90.4-mile journey takes approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes to complete. Because the trip is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations unless your plans in Cedar Falls require it. You can expect to spend about $13 on fuel for the round trip, making this an affordable transit between these two Midwestern hubs. Navigating primarily via I-380, North Dubuque Street, and Kimball Road, you will find a straightforward path through the state. Whether you are heading north for business or a quick visit, this drive provides a reliable connection within Iowa.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
45.2 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route emphasizes regional roads over long highway stretches. With a highway share of 0%, your focus will remain on navigating local infrastructure rather than maintaining high speeds on major freeways. The road profile is characterized by frequent changes in direction, particularly as you transition onto Kimball Road, which features no long, uninterrupted stretches. You will be behind the wheel for under an hour and a half, so stay alert for the constant adjustments required by the local road layout. It is a hands-on driving experience that demands your full attention from start to finish.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kimball Road 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Iowa City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is easy. At 1h 28m 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 Iowa City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kimball Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Dubuque Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 380 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Avenue of the Saints | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IA 27 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 18th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Waterloo Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Kimball Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Cedar Falls, IA.
1
Start on South Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Gilbert Street
2
Turn slight left onto Kimball Road
476 ft
·
22 sec
·
Kimball Road
3
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Dubuque Street
4
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
5
Merge slight left
4.1 mi
·
4 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 380, US 218, IA 27
7
Keep slight right to continue on I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
8
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
71 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Keep slight left to continue on Avenue of the Saints
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
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
11
Keep slight left
259 ft
·
7 sec
12
Turn right
4.0 mi
·
5 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward 18th Street, Waterloo Road
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
18th Street, Waterloo Road
14
Continue on Waterloo Road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Waterloo Road
15
Turn left onto Waterloo Road
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Waterloo Road
16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Main Street
16 ft
·
Main Street
17
Exit the roundabout onto Main Street
20 ft
·
Main Street
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 90.4-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time to avoid local traffic congestion. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops given the short duration, but keeping your fuel tank topped off before leaving Iowa City is a smart way to keep your $13 travel budget on track. Because the route relies on turn-heavy local roads, ensure your GPS is updated and ready to handle the specific transitions between North Dubuque Street and the final approach on Kimball Road. Take advantage of the short travel time to leave whenever it best suits your schedule, as there are no long, grueling segments that require mandatory rest breaks.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.2 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 44m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.2 miles or 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 12m
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 Iowa City, 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 Iowa City, IA
This is one driving day of about 90.4 miles and 1h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Iowa City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.2 mi from Iowa City, IA · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 45.2 miles from Iowa City, 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
$13.73 one way
$27.46 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $15.14 | $30.27 |
| premium | $4.80 | $17.07 | $34.13 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $20.08 | $40.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.49 | $4.34 |
| Efficient EV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.91 | $3.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.2 | 0 | $12.66 | $5.79 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Destination
Cedar Falls, IA
Afternoon in Cedar Falls on Sunday
Local time
2:34 PM
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
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 28m 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 Iowa City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 90.4 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kimball Road, North Dubuque Street, I 380. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.2 miles from Iowa City, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.73 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 Iowa City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is easy. At 1h 28m 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 Iowa City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Iowa City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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