Origin
Iowa Falls, IA
Afternoon in Iowa Falls on Sunday
Local time
4:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iowa Falls, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
106.1 mi
171 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 56m
★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 12m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
2h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iowa Falls, IA
Ali Soheil
Trip Overview
Traveling from Iowa Falls to Cedar Rapids is a straightforward 106.1-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 4 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $16 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly way to cross the Iowa heartland. The drive takes you entirely through the Midwest, offering a consistent regional feel as you transition between these two communities. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick getaway, the trip is efficient and simple to navigate.
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
53.1 miles from Iowa Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between various road types, including US 20, the Avenue of the Saints, and Oak Street. About 53% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a nice balance between steady cruising and local navigation. You will tackle your longest uninterrupted stretch early on, covering 55.9 miles along US 20. The personality of the road shifts from open highway stretches to more localized driving, ensuring you stay alert behind the wheel. It is neither a tedious interstate grind nor a overly technical backroad, but rather a balanced trek that moves you steadily toward your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 55.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Rocksylvania Avenue.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Rocksylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 65 / Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Rocksylvania Avenue
Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 65 / Oak Street
Turn left onto US 65 / Oak Street
Navigation decision point
5
5.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
6
62.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
104.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 55.9 mi | 1h 4m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 42.3 mi | 45m |
| Oak Street | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| 32nd Street Northeast | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| East Rocksylvania Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Tiperary Drive Northeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Crystal Drive Northeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Commercial Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 55.9 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa Falls, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on Commercial Street
331 ft
·
11 sec
·
Commercial Street
2
Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Rocksylvania Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 65
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Oak Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward US 20 East
5
Merge onto US 20
56 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
US 20
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
42 mi
·
45 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
8
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft
·
4 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
·
7 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
12
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft
·
18 sec
·
Tiperary Drive Northeast
13
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to depart whenever it best suits your plans. Because there are no mandatory stops listed, you can easily complete the entire 2 hours and 4 minutes in one go, though taking a quick break after that 55.9-mile stretch on US 20 can help keep you refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Iowa Falls to ensure you are covered for the estimated $16 expense. With no complex navigation required, you can focus on the road and enjoy the transition across the state. Remember that since this is a direct route, you can easily make it a round trip in a single day if your itinerary requires it.
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 53.1 miles from Iowa Falls, IA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.9 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.1 miles or 1h 4m 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 42m
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 Iowa Falls, 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 Falls, IA
This is one driving day of about 106.1 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Iowa Falls, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 55.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.1 mi from Iowa Falls, IA · 1h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 53.1 miles from Iowa Falls, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Cedar Rapids, 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
$16.12 one way
$32.23 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $17.77 | $35.53 |
| premium | $4.80 | $20.03 | $40.06 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $23.57 | $47.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.14 | $5.09 |
| Efficient EV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.28 | $4.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.4 | 0 | $14.85 | $6.79 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Afternoon in Cedar Rapids on Sunday
Local time
4:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
53 mi in
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 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 4m 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 Falls, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 106.1 miles and takes about 2h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, Avenue of the Saints, Oak Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 53.1 miles from Iowa Falls, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.12 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.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Rocksylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 65 / Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Iowa Falls, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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