Origin
Monticello, IA
Late night in Monticello on Saturday
Local time
2:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monticello, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
34.6 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monticello, IA
Serena Koi
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Monticello to Cedar Rapids, this 34.6-mile journey serves as a straightforward connection between two Midwest communities. Clocking in at approximately 40 minutes, the trip is easily manageable as a quick day outing rather than an overnight excursion. You can expect to spend about $5 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. Because the route relies on local roads like East 1st Street, South Main Street, and Amber Road, you won't be dealing with high-speed interstate traffic. It is an efficient, no-fuss way to navigate through Iowa, perfect for travelers who prefer local roads over major highways.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 34.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Since this route utilizes 0% highway driving, you will be navigating surface streets for the entire 34.6-mile duration. The road layout is consistent, with no significant stretches of uninterrupted driving; even the longest segment on East 1st Street doesn't offer a long-distance highway feel. You will find that the personality of this drive is dictated by local navigation rather than open-road cruising. It is a practical, steady pace that requires your attention on turns rather than high-speed maneuvering.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 151 Business is the longest continuous segment at about 25.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 151 Business and IA 100. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 38 / East 1st Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 45m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 38 / East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 151 Business; IA 38 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.7 miles (IA 100): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 38 / East 1st Street
Turn left onto IA 38 / East 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 151 Business; IA 38 / South Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 151 Business; IA 38 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
28.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
IA 100
Turn right onto IA 100
Navigation decision point
4
32 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
30th Street Drive Southeast
Turn right onto 30th Street Drive Southeast
Navigation decision point
4
34.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
Tiffany Drive Northeast
Turn left onto Tiffany Drive Northeast
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 151 Business | 25.3 mi | 29m |
| IA 100 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| South Main Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| 30th Street Drive Southeast | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| US 151 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East Post Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 29th Street Drive Southeast | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 29th Street Northeast | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 151 Business
— 25.3 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monticello, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on North Maple Street
73 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Maple Street
2
Turn left onto IA 38
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
East 1st Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 151 Business; IA 38
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
4
Continue on US 151 Business
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Amber Road
5
Take the ramp onto US 151 Business
25 mi
·
29 min
·
US 151 Business
6
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 151; IA 13
7
Turn right onto IA 100
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
IA 100
8
Turn left onto East Post Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Post Road
9
Turn right onto 30th Street Drive Southeast
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
30th Street Drive Southeast
10
Continue on 29th Street Drive Southeast
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
29th Street Drive Southeast
11
Continue on 29th Street Northeast
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
29th Street Northeast
12
Turn right onto Lindale Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Lindale Avenue Northeast
13
Turn left onto Tiffany Drive Northeast
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Tiffany Drive Northeast
14
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.3 mi from Monticello, IA · 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.3 miles from Monticello, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cedar Rapids, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Cedar Rapids, 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
$5.41 one way
$10.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.94 | $11.88 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.66 | $13.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.64 | $15.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 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 | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.03 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
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 Rapids, IA
Late night in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
2:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Springville, IA
17 mi in
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
2 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
45m 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 Monticello, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 34.6 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 151 Business, IA 100, South Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.3 miles from Monticello, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.41 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 45m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 38 / East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 151 Business; IA 38 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.7 miles (IA 100): Navigation decision point.
The route from Monticello, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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