Trip from Nashua, 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

1h 49m

Distance

93.3 mi

150 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

1h 42m ★

6 AM

1h 50m

8 AM

2h 6m

10 AM

1h 55m

12 PM

1h 54m

3 PM

1h 56m

5 PM

2h 5m

8 PM

1h 45m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Nashua, IA

Andhika Indra Pratama

Trip Overview

The drive from Nashua, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 93.3 miles and takes about 1h 49m 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, Leo P Rooff Expressway, I 380 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 74.3 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.59 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.

Midpoint

46.6 miles from Nashua, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Avenue of the Saints	74.3 mi	1h 22m
Leo P Rooff Expressway	6.7 mi	8m
I 380	6.5 mi	7m
Washington Street	2.4 mi	3m
32nd Street Northeast	1.3 mi	2m
Sample Street	0.9 mi	1m
US 218	0.3 mi	<1m
Main Street	0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 74.3 mi, about 1h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Nashua, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.

Start on Main Street

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Main Street

Turn left onto IA 346

0.9 mi · 1 min · Sample Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 49 sec

Merge onto US 218; IA 27

32 mi · 36 min · Avenue of the Saints

Take the exit

317 ft · 7 sec

Toward US 218 south: Waterloo

Continue on US 218

0.3 mi · 39 sec · US 218

Toward US 218 south: Waterloo

Merge onto US 218

6.7 mi · 8 min · Leo P Rooff Expressway

Continue on US 218

2.4 mi · 3 min · Washington Street

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

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

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Keep slight left at fork

121 ft · 4 sec

Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast

1.3 mi · 2 min · 32nd Street Northeast

Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast

184 ft · 10 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast

Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast

177 ft · 7 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast

Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast

428 ft · 18 sec · Tiperary Drive Northeast

Arrive at destination

Tiperary Drive Northeast

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.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 46.6 miles from Nashua, IA, or about 56m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.3 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 21 miles or 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 46.6 miles or 56m 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 29m

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 Nashua, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Nashua, IA

This is one driving day of about 93.3 miles and 1h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Nashua, IA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 74.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waterloo, IA

47 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

Waverly, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elk Run Heights, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 46.6 miles from Nashua, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.3 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

HuHot Mongolian Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 93.3

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193936000

Visit website

Red Lobster

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

1.5 mi

Persis Biryani Indian Grill

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

1.8 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Kismet Coffee & Bloom

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 93.3

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+13192003218

Visit website

Groundswell Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

2.8 mi

Veritas Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

2.5 mi

HuHot Mongolian Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 93.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193936000

Visit website

Red Lobster

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately mile 93.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193950450

Visit website

Persis Biryani Indian Grill

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 93.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13198262000

Visit website

Rio Burritos

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately mile 93.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9:15 pm

+13199815001

Visit website

Napoli's Italian Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 93.3

Marion, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193772100

Visit website

Scott's Family Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 93.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+13195504517

Visit website

Cobble Hill

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour Expensive mile 93.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 4:30–9 pm

+13193663177

Visit website

Oscar's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 86.6

Hiawatha, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13193788885

Visit website

Kismet Coffee & Bloom

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 93.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+13192003218

Visit website

Groundswell Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 93.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13192002791

Visit website

Veritas Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 93.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Closed

+13192083192

Visit website

Café Saint Pio

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 93.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+13192001000

Roasters Coffeehouse NewBo

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 93.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

Opus Concert Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 93.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13193668203

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 93.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

+18006360986

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 20

Shell Rock, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

1.1 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 93.3

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Bistro at Blooms

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 93.3

Marion, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–2:30 pm

+13194499996

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 91.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | IA 346 / Sample Street

Turn left onto IA 346 / Sample Street

Navigation decision point

33.3 mi into trip | ~39m in

Take the exit toward US 218 south: Waterloo

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward US 218 south: Waterloo

42.7 mi into trip | ~52m 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,...

49.3 mi into trip | ~1h 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

91.8 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.59 one way

$29.17 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$16.02	$32.03
premium	$4.89	$17.95	$35.91
diesel	$5.61	$20.60	$41.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	28	$9.80	$4.48
Efficient EV	23.3	$8.16	$3.73
EV Truck/SUV	37.3	$13.06	$5.97

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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 15, 2026

Origin

Nashua, IA

Afternoon in Nashua on Saturday

Local time

2:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cedar Rapids, IA

Afternoon in Cedar Rapids on Saturday

Local time

2:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

68°F

Waterloo, IA

47 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

21 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

1h 49m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

93.3 mi in 1h 49m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 74.3 mi on Avenue of the Saints.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IA 346 / Sample Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 93.3 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IA 346 / Sample Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 42.7 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Nashua, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Dubuque and Cedar Falls.

Dubuque

42.7 mi in | ~52m | via I 380

Cedar Falls

42.7 mi in | ~52m | via I 380

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 93.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 74.3 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cedar Rapids, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cedar Rapids, IA before heading back.

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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Explore More

Return Trip

Cedar Rapids, IA to Nashua, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

92.6 mi 1h 48m

Explore more options from Nashua, IA or browse trips ending in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.

Trip from Nashua, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

HuHot Mongolian Grill

Kismet Coffee & Bloom

HuHot Mongolian Grill

Red Lobster

Persis Biryani Indian Grill

Rio Burritos

Napoli's Italian Restaurant

Scott's Family Restaurant

Cobble Hill

Oscar's Restaurant

Kismet Coffee & Bloom

Groundswell Cafe

Veritas Cafe

Café Saint Pio

Roasters Coffeehouse NewBo

Opus Concert Cafe

Trading Grounds

Blink Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Blink Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Bistro at Blooms

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Nashua, IA

Cedar Rapids, IA

Same local time

21 degrees cooler at arrival

1h 49m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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