Origin
Waukee, IA
Afternoon in Waukee on Monday
Local time
2:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waukee, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA
Drive Time
2h 17m
Distance
133.8 mi
215 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 8m
★
6 AM
2h 17m
8 AM
2h 36m
10 AM
2h 24m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 35m
8 PM
2h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waukee, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Waukee, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 133.8 miles and takes about 2h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 6th Street, Hickman Road, I-35 north for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.32 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.9 miles from Waukee, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 17m drive with frequent turns across 133.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
6th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Waukee, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is easy. At 2h 17m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waukee, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 6th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hickman Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-35 north | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 6 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Hubbell Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Hubbell Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lincoln Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 73rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
6th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukee, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on Ashworth Drive
141 ft
·
7 sec
·
Ashworth Drive
2
Turn right onto 6th Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
6th Street
3
Turn right onto Hickman Road
5.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Hickman Road
4
Turn left onto I-35 north, I-80 east
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
I-35 north, I-80 east
5
Merge slight left
10 mi
·
11 min
6
Continue straight
0.7 mi
·
51 sec
7
Continue straight
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
8
Keep slight left
4.5 mi
·
5 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
10
Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
11
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road
33 mi
·
39 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
12
Take the exit right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
13
Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway
37 mi
·
42 min
·
Lincoln Highway
14
Continue on 73rd Street
27 mi
·
30 min
·
73rd Street
15
Take the exit slight right toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
16
Continue straight
8.3 mi
·
9 min
17
Take the exit slight right toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
18
Keep slight right to continue on I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
19
Keep slight left to continue on I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
20
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
Avenue of the Saints
21
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
22
Keep slight left
121 ft
·
5 sec
23
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
32nd Street Northeast
24
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft
·
10 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
25
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft
·
8 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
26
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
427 ft
·
19 sec
·
Tiperary Drive Northeast
27
Arrive at your destination
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 66.9 miles from Waukee, IA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.9 miles or 1h 8m 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 52m
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 Waukee, 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 Waukee, IA
This is one driving day of about 133.8 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Waukee, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.9 mi from Waukee, IA · 1h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 66.9 miles from Waukee, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.32 one way
$40.65 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $22.40 | $44.81 |
| premium | $4.80 | $25.26 | $50.52 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $29.73 | $59.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.1 | 0 | $14.05 | $6.42 |
| Efficient EV | 33.5 | 0 | $11.71 | $5.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.5 | 0 | $18.73 | $8.56 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Afternoon in Cedar Rapids on Monday
Local time
2:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°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
2h 17m 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 Waukee, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 133.8 miles and takes about 2h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 6th Street, Hickman Road, I-35 north. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.9 miles from Waukee, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.32 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.
The drive from Waukee, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is easy. At 2h 17m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waukee, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waukee, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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