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Trip from Iowa Falls, IA to Cedar Falls, IA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

55m

Distance

50.4 mi

81 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 51m ★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 52m

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

city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States

Iowa Falls, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

Cedar Falls, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Iowa Falls, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 50.4 miles and takes about 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East Rocksylvania Avenue, Oak Street, US 20 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.88 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 50.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

55m 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 55m drive with frequent turns across 50.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Rocksylvania Avenue 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 Iowa Falls, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is easy. At 55m 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 Falls, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Rocksylvania Avenue
Oak Street
US 20 East
CR D18
Grundy Road
University Avenue
Main Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: East Rocksylvania Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Iowa Falls, IA and Cedar Falls, 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 Oak Street

5.1 mi · 8 min · Oak Street
4

Take the ramp left toward US 20 East

0.4 mi · 53 sec · US 20 East
5

Merge slight left

38 mi · 43 min
6

Take the exit slight right toward CR D18: Cedar Falls

0.4 mi · 1 min · CR D18: Cedar Falls
7

Turn left onto Grundy Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Grundy Road
8

Continue on University Avenue

3.5 mi · 4 min · University Avenue
9

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward University Avenue

89 ft · 2 sec · University Avenue
10

Exit the roundabout onto University Avenue

1.7 mi · 3 min · University Avenue
11

Turn left onto Main Street

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Main Street
12

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Main Street

79 ft · 2 sec · Main Street
13

Exit the roundabout onto Main Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Main Street
14

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Main Street

75 ft · 2 sec · Main Street
15

Exit the roundabout onto Main Street

20 ft · Main Street
16

Arrive at your destination

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 25.2 mi from Iowa Falls, IA · 27m into the drive

Downtown Aplington, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Aplington, IA

25 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

Eldora, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Aplington, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25.2 miles from Iowa Falls, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Cedar Falls, IA

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Cedar Falls, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.88 one way

$15.76 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $8.65 $17.30
premium $4.89 $9.70 $19.40
diesel $5.61 $11.13 $22.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.1 0 $5.29 $2.42
Efficient EV 12.6 0 $4.41 $2.02
EV Truck/SUV 20.2 0 $7.06 $3.23

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Iowa Falls, IA

Morning in Iowa Falls on Thursday

Local time

10:44 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cedar Falls, IA

Morning in Cedar Falls on Thursday

Local time

10:44 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

55m 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 Falls, IA covers 50.4 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Rocksylvania Avenue, Oak Street, US 20 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.2 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 $7.88 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 Falls, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is easy. At 55m 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 Falls, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Iowa Falls, IA to Cedar Falls, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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