Origin
Ottumwa, IA
Afternoon in Ottumwa on Thursday
Local time
4:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ottumwa, IA to Cedar Falls, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 56m
Distance
122.1 mi
196 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 45m
★
6 AM
2h 56m
8 AM
3h 19m
10 AM
3h 4m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 18m
8 PM
2h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ottumwa, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ottumwa, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 122.1 miles and takes about 2h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Highway 21, 13th Street, 220th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.9 miles on State Highway 21. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.09 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
61 miles from Ottumwa, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 122.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
The drive from Ottumwa, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 122.1 miles and takes about 2h 56m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 21 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 112.1 miles in.
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 56m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 112.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.9 miles (IA 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
112.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 42m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 West, IA 27 North: Fort Dodge
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 20 West, IA 27 North: Fort Dodge
5
116.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m 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
117.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
117.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
|
IA 58
Turn right onto IA 58
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
121.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 54m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 21 | 24.9 mi | 36m |
| 13th Street | 20.3 mi | 29m |
| 220th Street | 13.6 mi | 20m |
| Hawkeye Road | 10.9 mi | 16m |
| Highway 21 | 10 mi | 13m |
| State Highway 149 | 9.8 mi | 14m |
| B Avenue | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| Old US Highway 63 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 21
— 24.9 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ottumwa, IA and Cedar Falls, IA.
1
Start on West Fourth Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
West Fourth Street
2
Turn right onto US 63 Business; IA 149
395 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Wapello Street
3
Continue on US 63 Business; IA 149
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Old US Highway 63
4
Continue on IA 149
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 149
5
Continue on IA 149
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 149
6
Turn left onto IA 21
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Highway 21
7
Continue on IA 21
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Center Street
8
Continue on IA 21
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 21
9
Continue on IA 21
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Barnes Street
10
Continue on IA 21
7.0 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 21
11
Continue on IA 21
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
220th Street
12
Continue on IA 21
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 21
13
Continue on IA 21
11 mi
·
15 min
·
220th Street
14
Turn right onto US 6
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
380th Avenue
15
Turn left onto IA 21
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
B Avenue
16
Continue on IA 21
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 21
17
Continue on IA 21
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
11th Avenue
18
Continue on IA 21
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
7th Avenue
19
Turn left onto IA 21
20 mi
·
29 min
·
13th Street
20
Turn left onto IA 8; IA 21
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
58th Street
21
Turn right onto IA 21
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 21
22
Continue on IA 21
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Hawkeye Road
23
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward US 20 West, IA 27 North: Fort Dodge
Use the left lane.
24
Merge onto US 20; IA 27
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
25
Take the exit onto IA 27
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
IA 27
Toward IA 27, IA 58 North: Cedar Falls
26
Keep slight left at fork
260 ft
·
8 sec
27
Turn right onto IA 58
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
IA 58
Use the left lane.
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 184
Toward 18th Street, Waterloo Road
29
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
this road
Toward Waterloo Road
30
Turn left onto Waterloo Road
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Waterloo Road
31
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
15 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
32
Continue on Main Street
21 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
33
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 61 miles from Ottumwa, IA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.9 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 27 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61 miles or 1h 27m 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 24m
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 Ottumwa, 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 Ottumwa, IA
This is one driving day of about 122.1 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Ottumwa, 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 State Highway 21 for about 24.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 61 mi from Ottumwa, IA · 1h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61 miles from Ottumwa, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.09 one way
$38.18 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.96 | $41.92 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.50 | $46.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.96 | $53.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.6 | 0 | $12.82 | $5.86 |
| Efficient EV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.68 | $4.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.8 | 0 | $17.09 | $7.81 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
4:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Brooklyn, IA
61 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
20 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 56m 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 Ottumwa, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 122.1 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 21, 13th Street, 220th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61 miles from Ottumwa, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.09 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 56m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 112.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.9 miles (IA 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Ottumwa, IA to Cedar Falls, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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