Origin
Red Oak, IA
Morning in Red Oak on Saturday
Local time
8:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Red Oak, IA to Cedar Falls, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 49m
Distance
225.3 mi
363 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 36m
★
6 AM
4h 50m
8 AM
5h 17m
10 AM
4h 59m
12 PM
4h 56m
3 PM
5h 0m
5 PM
5h 15m
8 PM
4h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Red Oak, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Red Oak, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 225.3 miles and takes about 4h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 6, Northeast Hubbell Road, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62 miles on US 6. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.22 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
112.7 miles from Red Oak, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 49m. Total distance: 225.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
The drive from Red Oak, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 225.3 miles and takes about 4h 49m, 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 40 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 6 is the longest continuous segment at about 62 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 108.6 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 225.3 miles you will encounter 21 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 108.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
108.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
|
I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
123 mi into trip
|
~2h 35m in
|
I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
127.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m in
|
US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
5
200.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 15m in
|
210th Street
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
224.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 48m 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 Red Oak, IA and Cedar Falls, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City and Bondurant.
Minneapolis
108.6 mi in
|
~2h 18m
|
via I 80
Kansas City
108.6 mi in
|
~2h 18m
|
via I 80
Bondurant
127.5 mi in
|
~2h 40m
|
via US 65
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 6 | 62 mi | 1h 7m |
| Northeast Hubbell Road | 35.2 mi | 41m |
| I 80 | 18.9 mi | 21m |
| Sanford Avenue | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| North Broadway Street | 14 mi | 20m |
| US 20 | 11.2 mi | 12m |
| 550th Street | 10 mi | 14m |
| White Pole Road | 9 mi | 13m |
Longest stretch:
US 6
— 62 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Oak, IA and Cedar Falls, IA.
1
Start on East Reed Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Reed Street
2
Turn right onto IA 48
14 mi
·
20 min
·
North Broadway Street
3
Continue on IA 48
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
M Avenue
4
Continue on IA 48
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
550th Street
5
Continue on IA 48
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Adair Street
6
Continue on IA 48
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
550th Street
7
Turn right onto US 6
8.9 mi
·
13 min
·
White Pole Road
8
Continue on US 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest 7th Street
9
Continue on US 6
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 7th Street
10
Continue on US 6
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
White Pole Road
11
Continue on US 6; IA 83
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
East 7th Street
12
Turn left onto US 6; US 71
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
650th Street
13
Take the exit onto US 6
62 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
US 6
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi
·
16 min
·
I 80
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 80
Use the slight left lane.
16
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 65
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
18
Continue on US 65; IA 330
35 mi
·
41 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
19
Turn left onto IA 330
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
20
Continue on IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
21
Continue on IA 330
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
22
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
23
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
24
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
25
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
26
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
27
Turn left onto IA 14
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
28
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
29
Merge onto US 20
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US 20
30
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward CR D18: Cedar Falls
31
Turn left onto Grundy Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Grundy Road
32
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
University Avenue
33
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
88 ft
·
1 sec
·
University Avenue
34
Continue on University Avenue
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
University Avenue
35
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Main Street
36
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
77 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
37
Continue on Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
38
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
74 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
39
Continue on Main Street
21 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
40
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 112.7 miles from Red Oak, IA, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62 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 50 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.7 miles or 2h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 53m
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 Red Oak, 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 Red Oak, IA
This is one driving day of about 225.3 miles and 4h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Red Oak, 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 US 6 for about 62 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 112.7 mi from Red Oak, IA · 2h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 112.7 miles from Red Oak, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 6 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.22 one way
$70.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $38.67 | $77.35 |
| premium | $4.89 | $43.36 | $86.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.74 | $99.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.6 | 0 | $23.66 | $10.81 |
| Efficient EV | 56.3 | 0 | $19.71 | $9.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.1 | 1 | $31.54 | $14.42 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Morning in Cedar Falls on Saturday
Local time
8:40 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
26 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
4h 49m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Red Oak, IA to Cedar Falls, IA covers 225.3 miles and takes about 4h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 6, Northeast Hubbell Road, I 80. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 112.7 miles from Red Oak, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.22 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 225.3 miles you will encounter 21 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 108.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Red Oak, IA and Cedar Falls, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City and Bondurant.
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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