The drive from Norwalk, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 118.2 miles and takes about 2h 36m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Northeast Hubbell Road, Sanford Avenue, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.2 miles on Northeast Hubbell Road.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.48 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
59.1 miles from Norwalk, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 36m. Total distance: 118.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 36m drive with frequent turns across 118.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northeast Hubbell Road is the longest continuous segment at about 35.2 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 around 2.5 miles in near CR R63 / County Road R63.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 36m drive. You will face about 20 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (CR R63 / County Road R63): Navigation decision point; at 19 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.5 miles (210th Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in|CR R63 / County Road R63
At end of road, turn left onto CR R63 / County Road R63
Navigation decision point
5
19 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
5
93.5 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|210th Street
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
115.5 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|University Avenue
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
117.4 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|Main Street
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Norwalk, IA and Cedar Falls, IA, road signs point toward Altoona and Cr D18: Cedar Falls.
Altoona
19 mi in|~24m
Cr D18: Cedar Falls
110.5 mi in|~2h 23m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi
41m
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi
21m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
14.5 mi
16m
US 20
11.2 mi
12m
240th Street
6.3 mi
9m
Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
8m
University Avenue
5.3 mi
8m
N Avenue
4.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Northeast Hubbell Road
— 35.2 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norwalk, IA and Cedar Falls, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
82 ft·8 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR G14
1.1 mi·1 min·North Avenue
3
Continue on County Road G14
1.4 mi·2 min·County Road G14
4
At end of road, turn left onto CR R63
1.2 mi·2 min·County Road R63
5
Continue on CR R63
0.4 mi·48 sec·Southwest 9th Street
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·42 sec
7
Merge onto IA 5
14 mi·16 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
9
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·41 sec·this road
10
Turn right onto US 6
1.2 mi·1 min·Hubbell Avenue
11
Continue on US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
12
Continue on US 65; IA 330
35 mi·41 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
13
Turn left onto IA 330
5.9 mi·8 min·Marsh Avenue
14
Continue on IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·South Main Street
15
Continue on IA 330
4.3 mi·5 min·160th Street
16
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi·21 min·Sanford Avenue
17
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi·9 min·240th Street
18
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·M Avenue
19
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road T37
20
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·210th Street
21
Turn left onto IA 14
4.4 mi·6 min·N Avenue
22
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
23
Merge onto US 20
11 mi·12 min·US 20
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward CR D18: Cedar Falls
25
Turn left onto Grundy Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Grundy Road
26
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi·4 min·University Avenue
27
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
88 ft·1 sec·University Avenue
28
Continue on University Avenue
1.7 mi·3 min·University Avenue
29
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Main Street
30
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
77 ft·1 sec·Main Street
31
Continue on Main Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
32
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
74 ft·1 sec·Main Street
33
Continue on Main Street
21 ft·0 sec·Main Street
34
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 59.1 miles from Norwalk, IA, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.2 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 26 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.1 miles or 1h 14m 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 7m
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 Norwalk, 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 Norwalk, IA
This is one driving day of about 118.2 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Norwalk, 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 Northeast Hubbell Road for about 35.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.1 mi from Norwalk, IA
· 1h 14m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.48 one way
$36.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.29
$40.58
premium
$4.89
$22.75
$45.49
diesel
$5.61
$26.10
$52.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
2 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Red E Charging Station
Marshalltown, Iowa
Other
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Marshalltown, Iowa
Blink
1 DCFC
Other: 1
Blink: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.5
0
$12.41
$5.67
Efficient EV
29.6
0
$10.34
$4.73
EV Truck/SUV
47.3
0
$16.55
$7.56
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Norwalk, IA
Morning
in Norwalk on Saturday
Local time
7:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Falls, IA
Morning
in Cedar Falls on Saturday
Local time
7:39 AM
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 36m 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 Norwalk, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 118.2 miles and takes about 2h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northeast Hubbell Road, Sanford Avenue, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.1 miles from Norwalk, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.48 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 36m drive. You will face about 20 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (CR R63 / County Road R63): Navigation decision point; at 19 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.5 miles (210th Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Between Norwalk, IA and Cedar Falls, IA, road signs point toward Altoona and Cr D18: Cedar Falls.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
