Tripoli to Cedar Rapids is 71.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 32 minutes via Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, taking you through the Midwest region. Expect a local feel with frequent turns rather than a straightforward highway journey. It's a relatively short trip, making it ideal for a single-day excursion where you can take your time and explore as you go.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36 miles from Tripoli, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 71.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll navigate numerous intersections and changes in direction. With 0% highway share, you'll be on local roads for the entire 71.9 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 43 miles along Avenue of the Saints. Be prepared for a varied driving experience, with frequent adjustments to speed and direction as you move through different local road networks.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 43 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.4 miles in near IA 3 / 230th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 71.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 6.4 miles (IA 3 / 230th Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.4 miles (CR V49 / South Raymond Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 25.4 miles (CR V49 / Lafayette Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
6.4 mi into trip|~9m in|IA 3 / 230th Street
Turn left onto IA 3 / 230th Street
Navigation decision point
4
23.4 mi into trip|~36m in|CR V49 / South Raymond Road
Enter roundabout onto CR V49 / South Raymond Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
25.4 mi into trip|~39m in|CR V49 / Lafayette Road
Turn right onto CR V49 / Lafayette Road
Navigation decision point
6
27.9 mi into trip|~43m 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
70.5 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
43 mi
46m
North Raymond Road
10 mi
15m
Piedmont Avenue
5.8 mi
7m
Reed Avenue
5 mi
8m
South Raymond Road
2.2 mi
3m
230th Street
2 mi
2m
32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
South 3rd Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 43 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tripoli, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on IA 93
0.6 mi·1 min·South Main Street
2
Continue on Piedmont Avenue
5.8 mi·7 min·Piedmont Avenue
3
Turn left onto IA 3
2.0 mi·2 min·230th Street
4
Turn right onto Reed Avenue
5.0 mi·8 min·Reed Avenue
5
Continue on CR V49
10.0 mi·15 min·North Raymond Road
6
Enter roundabout onto CR V49
133 ft·2 sec·South Raymond Road
7
Continue on CR V49
1.5 mi·2 min·South Raymond Road
8
Continue on CR V49
0.5 mi·55 sec·North 3rd Street
9
Turn right onto CR V49
160 ft·8 sec·Lafayette Road
10
Turn left onto CR V49
0.8 mi·1 min·South 3rd Street
11
Continue on CR V49
0.7 mi·1 min·South Raymond Road
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
13
Merge onto I 380; US 20; IA 27
0.7 mi·45 sec·Avenue of the Saints
14
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
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
16
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
17
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
18
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
19
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
20
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
21
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 32 minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any spontaneous stops. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, you shouldn't have any major budget concerns for gas. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed. Keep an eye out for turns onto North Raymond Road and Piedmont Avenue, as these are key segments of your journey.
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 36 miles from Tripoli, IA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36 miles or 51m 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 19m
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 Tripoli, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tripoli, IA
This is one driving day of about 71.9 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Tripoli, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 43 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.6
0
$7.55
$3.45
Efficient EV
18
0
$6.29
$2.88
EV Truck/SUV
28.8
0
$10.07
$4.60
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Tripoli, IA
Morning
in Tripoli on Saturday
Local time
8:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Morning
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
8:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
36 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
21 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
1h 32m 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 Tripoli, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 71.9 miles and takes about 1h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, North Raymond Road, Piedmont Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36 miles from Tripoli, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.24 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 6.4 miles (IA 3 / 230th Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.4 miles (CR V49 / South Raymond Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 25.4 miles (CR V49 / Lafayette Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Tripoli, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
