Lake Mills, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is 172.6 miles and takes about 3h 26m via US 18 and Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route will take you across the heart of Iowa, a classic Midwest drive that's straightforward and efficient. With a highway share of 56%, you'll spend a good portion of your time on well-maintained roads, making for a smooth journey. This trip is designed for a single day, offering a convenient way to travel between these two Iowa cities without needing an overnight stay. You can expect a mixed driving experience that balances quicker highway travel with local road segments.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
86.3 miles from Lake Mills, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 172.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed profile, balancing highway speeds with local road segments. You'll be on the road for a significant stretch, with the longest uninterrupted portion covering 81.7 miles on US 18, so be prepared for a substantial period of driving. The highway share is 56%, meaning you'll experience both faster, more direct travel and potentially slower sections as you navigate through towns and rural areas. Expect the character of the drive to evolve as you transition between major arteries like US 18 and the Avenue of the Saints, and the Leo P Rooff Expressway.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 18 is the longest continuous segment at about 81.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in near CR A38 / 410th Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 172.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles (CR A38 / 410th Street): Navigation decision point; at 30.9 miles (US 18; IA 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.1 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
8 mi into trip|~12m in|CR A38 / 410th Street
Turn left onto CR A38 / 410th Street
Navigation decision point
5
30.9 mi into trip|~41m in|US 18; IA 27
Take the exit onto US 18; IA 27 toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Cha...
6
122.1 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids,...
6
128.6 mi into trip|~2h 36m 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
171.2 mi into trip|~3h 22m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lake Mills, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Blanco River, Charles City, Dubuque and Cedar Falls.
Blanco River
13.4 mi in|~22m
Charles City
30.9 mi in|~41m|via US 18; IA 27
Dubuque
122.1 mi in|~2h 28m|via I 380
Cedar Falls
122.1 mi in|~2h 28m|via I 380
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 18
81.7 mi
1h 34m
Avenue of the Saints
59.6 mi
1h 4m
Leo P Rooff Expressway
6.7 mi
8m
I 380
6.5 mi
7m
410th Street
5.4 mi
9m
Bluebill Avenue
3.7 mi
5m
Washington Street
2.4 mi
3m
County Road 105
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 18
— 81.7 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Mills, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on US 69
0.8 mi·1 min·West Main Street
2
Continue on CR 105
1.0 mi·1 min·County Highway 105
3
Continue on CR 105; I 35 ALT
1.5 mi·2 min·County Road 105
4
Turn right onto Bluebill Avenue
3.7 mi·5 min·Bluebill Avenue
5
Continue on North Western Street
1.0 mi·1 min·North Western Street
6
Turn left onto CR A38
5.4 mi·9 min·410th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward Blanco River
8
Merge onto I 35; IA 27
17 mi·18 min·Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit onto US 18; IA 27
0.4 mi·26 sec·US 18; IA 27
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
10
Turn slight right onto US 18; IA 27
81 mi·1 hr 34 min·US 18; IA 27
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
11
Take the exit
317 ft·7 sec
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
12
Continue on US 218
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
13
Merge onto US 218
6.7 mi·8 min·Leo P Rooff Expressway
14
Continue on US 218
2.4 mi·3 min·Washington Street
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
6.5 mi·7 min·I 380
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
16
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
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
18
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
19
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
20
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
21
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
22
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
23
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 3-hour drive time, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits you best, though an early start will give you ample time to reach Cedar Rapids and settle in. You'll encounter one main stop along the way, so plan your breaks accordingly to stay refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 81.7-mile stretch on US 18, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $27 suggests this is an economical trip, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. With a total distance of 172.6 miles, this is a perfect single-day excursion.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 86.3 miles from Lake Mills, IA, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.7 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 38 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.3 miles or 1h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 50m
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 Lake Mills, 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 Lake Mills, IA
This is one driving day of about 172.6 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Lake Mills, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 18 for about 81.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.3 mi from Lake Mills, IA
· 1h 45m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.98 one way
$53.97 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.63
$59.25
premium
$4.89
$33.22
$66.43
diesel
$5.61
$38.11
$76.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.8
0
$18.12
$8.28
Efficient EV
43.2
0
$15.10
$6.90
EV Truck/SUV
69
0
$24.16
$11.05
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 18, 2026
Origin
Lake Mills, IA
Morning
in Lake Mills on Saturday
Local time
8:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Morning
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
8:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 17 at 11:29PM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
48°F
Waverly, IA
86 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
35 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
3h 26m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lake Mills, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 172.6 miles and takes about 3h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 18, Avenue of the Saints, Leo P Rooff Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.3 miles from Lake Mills, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.98 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 172.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles (CR A38 / 410th Street): Navigation decision point; at 30.9 miles (US 18; IA 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.1 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Lake Mills, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Blanco River, Charles City, Dubuque and Cedar Falls.
