Trip from Norwalk, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

Drive Time

2h 14m

Distance

134.5 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Same-day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Norwalk, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 134.5 miles and takes about 2h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Avenue, County Road G14, County Road R63 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.97 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

67.2 miles from Norwalk, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 14m drive with frequent turns across 134.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

North Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
County Road G14	Unavailable	Refreshing
County Road R63	Unavailable	Refreshing
Southwest 9th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 6	Unavailable	Refreshing
Hubbell Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
Northeast Hubbell Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: North Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Main Street

2

Turn left onto North Avenue

3

Continue on County Road G14

4

At the end of the road, turn left onto County Road R63

5

Continue on Southwest 9th Street

6

Take the ramp right

7

Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

8

Take the exit slight right toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona

9

Continue straight

10

Turn right onto Hubbell Avenue

11

Continue on Northeast Hubbell Avenue

12

Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road

13

Take the exit right

14

Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway

15

Continue on 73rd Street

16

Take the exit slight right toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion

17

Continue straight

18

Take the exit slight right toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo

19

Keep slight right to continue on I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City

20

Keep slight left to continue on I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City

21

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

22

Take the exit slight right

23

Keep slight left

24

Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast

25

Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast

26

Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast

27

Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast

28

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 67.2 miles from Norwalk, IA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 19m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 67.2 miles or 1h 7m 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 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 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Norwalk, IA

This is one driving day of about 134.5 miles and 2h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Norwalk, IA.

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

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Ames, IA

67 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Cedar Rapids, 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 Rapids, IA.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 67.2 mi from Norwalk, IA

Cedar Falls, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ames, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67.2 miles from Norwalk, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.77	$19.97	$39.94
midgrade	$4.25	$22.52	$45.04
premium	$4.65	$24.64	$49.29
diesel	$5.30	$28.09	$56.17

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 47.1 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Norwalk, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 134.5 miles and takes about 2h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Avenue, County Road G14, County Road R63. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 67.2 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 $19.97 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.