Origin
Mount Pleasant, IA
Afternoon in Mount Pleasant on Thursday
Local time
12:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mount Pleasant, IA to Cedar Falls, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 39m
Distance
136.3 mi
219 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
13 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 29m
★
6 AM
2h 40m
8 AM
3h 1m
10 AM
2h 47m
12 PM
2h 45m
3 PM
2h 48m
5 PM
3h 0m
8 PM
2h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mount Pleasant, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mount Pleasant, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 136.3 miles and takes about 2h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, IA 58, Iowa Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 127.8 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.31 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
68.1 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 39m. Total distance: 136.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (3%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 39m drive with frequent turns across 136.3 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.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 127.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Warren Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 39m 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: near the start (West Warren Street): Navigation decision point; at 131.2 miles (IA 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 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
|
West Warren Street
Turn right onto West Warren Street
Navigation decision point
5
131.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
|
IA 27
Take the exit onto IA 27 toward IA 27, IA 58 North: Cedar Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 27, IA 58 North: Cedar Falls
5
131.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 32m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
131.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 32m in
|
IA 58
Turn right onto IA 58
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
135.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward 18th Street, Waterloo Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 184
Toward 18th Street, Waterloo Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 127.8 mi | 2h 24m |
| IA 58 | 4 mi | 5m |
| Iowa Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North Broadway Street | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| South Jefferson Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Waterloo Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| IA 27 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Warren Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 127.8 mi, about 2h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Pleasant, IA and Cedar Falls, IA.
1
Start on South White Street
58 ft
·
4 sec
·
South White Street
2
Turn right onto West Warren Street
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
West Warren Street
3
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jefferson Street
4
Continue on North Broadway Street
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North Broadway Street
5
Continue on Iowa Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Iowa Avenue
6
Turn left onto US 218; IA 27
121 mi
·
2 hr 16 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
8
Take the exit onto IA 27
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
IA 27
Toward IA 27, IA 58 North: Cedar Falls
9
Keep slight left at fork
260 ft
·
8 sec
10
Turn right onto IA 58
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
IA 58
Use the left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 184
Toward 18th Street, Waterloo Road
12
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
this road
Toward Waterloo Road
13
Turn left onto Waterloo Road
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Waterloo Road
14
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
15 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
15
Continue on Main Street
21 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.1 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.8 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 30 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.1 miles or 1h 20m 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 9m
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 Mount Pleasant, 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 Mount Pleasant, IA
This is one driving day of about 136.3 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Mount Pleasant, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 127.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68.1 mi from Mount Pleasant, IA · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
68 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 68.1 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 127.8 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.31 one way
$42.62 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.40 | $46.79 |
| premium | $4.89 | $26.23 | $52.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.09 | $60.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
13 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Tesla Supercharger
Iowa City, Iowa
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Waterloo, Iowa
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Coralville, Iowa
Tesla
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Iowa City, Iowa
EV Connect
1 DCFC
Shell Recharge Charging Station
Coralville, Iowa
Shell Recharge
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Blink
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Center Point, Iowa
Blink
1 DCFC
Tesla: 4
Blink: 3
Shell Recharge: 2
Other: 2
EV Connect: 1
ChargePoint: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.9 | 0 | $14.31 | $6.54 |
| Efficient EV | 34.1 | 0 | $11.93 | $5.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.5 | 0 | $19.08 | $8.72 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 Falls, IA
Afternoon in Cedar Falls on Thursday
Local time
12:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
24 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 39m 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 Mount Pleasant, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 136.3 miles and takes about 2h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, IA 58, Iowa Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68.1 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.31 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.
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 straightforward 2h 39m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Warren Street): Navigation decision point; at 131.2 miles (IA 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Mount Pleasant, IA to Cedar Falls, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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