Origin
Storm Lake, IA
Night in Storm Lake on Wednesday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Storm Lake, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 10m
Distance
212.1 mi
341 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 57m
★
6 AM
4h 11m
8 AM
4h 37m
10 AM
4h 20m
12 PM
4h 17m
3 PM
4h 21m
5 PM
4h 36m
8 PM
4h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Storm Lake, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Storm Lake, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 212.1 miles and takes about 4h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, Avenue of the Saints, 130th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 153.3 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.16 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
106 miles from Storm Lake, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 4h 10m highway drive covering 212.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and Avenue of the Saints. The longest continuous stretch is about 153.3 miles on US 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 153.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Avenue of the Saints. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 14.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 10m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 14.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 14.7 miles (US 20; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 168 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
14.4 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East: Fort Dodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 East: Fort Dodge
3
14.7 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 20; US 71
Merge onto US 20; US 71
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
168 mi into trip
|
~3h 20m 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
3
210.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 6m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
210.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 153.3 mi | 2h 56m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 42.3 mi | 45m |
| 130th Avenue | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| West Lakeshore Drive | 3.1 mi | 7m |
| 32nd Street Northeast | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| US 71 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Grand Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Tiperary Drive Northeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 153.3 mi, about 2h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Storm Lake, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Grand Avenue
2
Continue on West Lakeshore Drive
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
West Lakeshore Drive
3
Continue on US 71
11 mi
·
14 min
·
130th Avenue
4
Continue on IA 471
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 71
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Toward US 20 East: Fort Dodge
6
Merge onto US 20; US 71
153 mi
·
2 hr 56 min
·
US 20; US 71
7
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
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
9
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft
·
4 sec
10
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
32nd Street Northeast
11
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft
·
10 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
12
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft
·
7 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
13
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft
·
18 sec
·
Tiperary Drive Northeast
14
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 106 miles from Storm Lake, IA, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153.3 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 47 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106 miles or 2h 9m 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 27m
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 Storm Lake, 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 Storm Lake, IA
This is one driving day of about 212.1 miles and 4h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Storm Lake, 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 20 for about 153.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 106 mi from Storm Lake, IA · 2h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
106 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 106 miles from Storm Lake, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 153.3 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.16 one way
$66.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $36.41 | $72.82 |
| premium | $4.89 | $40.82 | $81.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.83 | $93.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.6 | 0 | $22.27 | $10.18 |
| Efficient EV | 53 | 0 | $18.56 | $8.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.8 | 1 | $29.69 | $13.57 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Night in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday
Local time
11:19 PM
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
23 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 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 Storm Lake, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 212.1 miles and takes about 4h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, Avenue of the Saints, 130th Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 106 miles from Storm Lake, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.16 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 4h 10m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 14.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 14.7 miles (US 20; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 168 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Storm Lake, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Cedar Rapids, IA
More from Storm Lake, IA
More trips to Cedar Rapids, IA
Explore more options from Storm Lake, IA or browse trips ending in Cedar Rapids, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Storm Lake, IA or Cedar Rapids, IA on MapSof.net.