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Trip from Remsen, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

5h 10m

Distance

262.9 mi

423 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$41

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

11 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 57m ★
6 AM
5h 11m
8 AM
5h 38m
10 AM
5h 20m
12 PM
5h 18m
3 PM
5h 22m
5 PM
5h 37m
8 PM
5h 3m

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

Downtown Remsen, IA, IA

Remsen, IA

cottonbro studio

Trip Overview

The drive from Remsen, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 262.9 miles and takes about 5h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 220th Street, Avenue of the Saints, Highway 20 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 165.9 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.10 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

131.5 miles from Remsen, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 40m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 10m. Total distance: 262.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (16%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 10m drive with frequent turns across 262.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
220th Street is the longest continuous segment at about 165.9 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 0.4 miles in near IA 3 / State Highway 3.

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 5h 10m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (IA 3 / State Highway 3): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (IA 140 / State Highway 140): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.7 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | IA 3 / State Highway 3

At end of road, turn left onto IA 3 / State Highway 3

Navigation decision point

5
1.2 mi into trip | ~3m in | IA 140 / State Highway 140

Turn right onto IA 140 / State Highway 140

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
25.7 mi into trip | ~37m in | US 20 / Highway 20

Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
218.9 mi into trip | ~4h 21m 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
5
261.5 mi into trip | ~5h 7m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
220th Street 165.9 mi 3h 11m
Avenue of the Saints 42.3 mi 45m
Highway 20 19 mi 22m
State Highway 140 15.1 mi 20m
United States Highway 20 8.3 mi 10m
Lee Avenue 5.4 mi 7m
320th Street 2 mi 2m
Shamrock Avenue 2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: 220th Street — 165.9 mi, about 3h 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Washington Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Washington Street
2

At end of road, turn left onto IA 3

0.8 mi · 1 min · State Highway 3
3

Turn right onto IA 140

15 mi · 20 min · State Highway 140
Use the right lane.
4

Turn left onto C66

2.0 mi · 2 min · 320th Street
5

Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue

2.0 mi · 2 min · Shamrock Avenue
6

Continue on L21

5.4 mi · 7 min · Lee Avenue
7

Turn left onto US 20

19 mi · 22 min · Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
8

Continue on US 20

8.3 mi · 10 min · United States Highway 20
9

Continue on US 20

166 mi · 3 hr 11 min · 220th Street
10

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
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
12

Keep slight left at fork

121 ft · 4 sec
13

Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast

1.3 mi · 2 min · 32nd Street Northeast
14

Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast

184 ft · 10 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast
15

Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast

177 ft · 7 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast
16

Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast

428 ft · 18 sec · Tiperary Drive Northeast
17

Arrive at destination

Tiperary Drive Northeast

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 131.5 miles from Remsen, IA, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.9 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 58 miles or 1h 15m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 131.5 miles or 2h 40m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 17m

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 Remsen, 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 Remsen, IA

This is one driving day of about 262.9 miles and 5h 10m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Remsen, 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 220th Street for about 165.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 131.5 mi from Remsen, IA · 2h 40m into the drive

city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Iowa Falls, IA

131 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.

Popular next leg

Iowa Falls, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

106.1 mi · 2h 4m

Pacing Suggestions

Denison, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Iowa Falls, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 131.5 miles from Remsen, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 165.9 miles.

Arriving in Cedar Rapids, IA

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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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 262.9

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

HuHot Mongolian Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 262.9

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 262.9

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 262.9

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 262.9

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 262.9

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 262.9

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 262.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 4:30–9 pm

+13193663177

Visit website

Eva's Mexican Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 262.9

Marion, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13193207702

Visit website

Red E Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 131.5

Webster City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 131.5

Webster City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 262.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 262.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.4 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 112.7

Fort Dodge, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 244.1

Center Point, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 150.2

Williams, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15155160821

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 262.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

+18006360986

Visit website

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.10 one way

$82.20 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 92 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $45.13 $90.26
premium $4.89 $50.59 $101.19
diesel $5.61 $58.05 $116.09

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$41

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$66–$91

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 92 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

11 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Blink Charging Station

Webster City, Iowa

Blink

1 DCFC

Red E Charging Station

Webster City, Iowa

Other

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Tesla

1 DCFC

Blink Charging Station

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Blink

1 DCFC

Blink Charging Station

Center Point, Iowa

Blink

1 DCFC

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Shell Recharge

1 DCFC

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

Williams, Iowa

Other

1 DCFC

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Fort Dodge, Iowa

Shell Recharge

1 DCFC

Blink: 3 Other: 3 Shell Recharge: 2 Tesla: 1 ChargePoint: 1 EVgo: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 78.9 0 $27.60 $12.62
Efficient EV 65.7 0 $23.00 $10.52
EV Truck/SUV 105.2 1 $36.81 $16.83

Gas CO2

92 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Remsen, IA

Late night in Remsen on Friday

Local time

12:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cedar Rapids, IA

Late night in Cedar Rapids on Friday

Local time

12:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

5h 10m 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 Remsen, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 262.9 miles and takes about 5h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 220th Street, Avenue of the Saints, Highway 20. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 131.5 miles from Remsen, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.10 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 is a straightforward 5h 10m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (IA 3 / State Highway 3): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (IA 140 / State Highway 140): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.7 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Remsen, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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