Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Afternoon in West Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
2:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA
Drive Time
2h 8m
Distance
127 mi
204 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 59m
★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 15m
12 PM
2h 13m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Des Moines, IA
Daniel Dorfer
Trip Overview
Connecting West Des Moines to Cedar Rapids covers a 127-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 8 minutes. This route serves as a straightforward Midwestern commute, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $19 for fuel to complete the trek. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, the drive maintains a consistent regional feel throughout the transition. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, the distance is short enough that you won't need to plan for an overnight stay unless your schedule demands it.
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
63.5 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will start by navigating 63rd Street before transitioning onto I-235 east and the John MacVicar Freeway. With a highway share of 0%, this route focuses on local navigation rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed pavement. In fact, your longest stretch is 0 miles on 63rd Street, emphasizing the frequent turns you will encounter. Be prepared to stay alert, as the road requires more active attention than a standard highway route.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
63rd 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 West Des Moines, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is easy. At 2h 8m 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 West Des Moines, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 63rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-235 east | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John MacVicar Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 6 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Hubbell Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Hubbell Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
63rd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vine Street
2
At the end of the road, turn left onto 63rd Street;1st Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
63rd Street;1st Street
3
Take the ramp right toward I-235 east
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I-235 east
4
Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
6
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East: Davenport
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 80 East: Davenport
7
Merge slight left
3.4 mi
·
3 min
8
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
9
Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
10
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road
33 mi
·
39 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
11
Take the exit right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
12
Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway
37 mi
·
42 min
·
Lincoln Highway
13
Continue on 73rd Street
27 mi
·
30 min
·
73rd Street
14
Take the exit slight right toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
15
Continue straight
8.3 mi
·
9 min
16
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
17
Keep slight right to continue on I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
18
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
19
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
Avenue of the Saints
20
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
21
Keep slight left
121 ft
·
5 sec
22
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
32nd Street Northeast
23
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft
·
10 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
24
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft
·
8 sec
·
Crystal Drive Northeast
25
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
427 ft
·
19 sec
·
Tiperary Drive Northeast
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip with zero scheduled stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the local roads that make up this 127-mile path. Given that you will be navigating several turns, keep your navigation system updated to ensure you don't miss any transitions between the local streets and freeways. Because the fuel cost is a modest $19, you can easily handle the transit on a single tank. Make sure to double-check your route before leaving West Des Moines, as the reliance on local roads means you should stay focused on your turn-by-turn directions.
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 63.5 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 4m 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 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.5 miles or 1h 4m 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 45m
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 West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, IA
This is one driving day of about 127 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from West Des Moines, 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 63.5 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 1h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 63.5 miles from West Des Moines, 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
$19.29 one way
$38.58 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $21.27 | $42.53 |
| premium | $4.80 | $23.98 | $47.95 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $28.22 | $56.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.1 | 0 | $13.33 | $6.10 |
| Efficient EV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.11 | $5.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.8 | 0 | $17.78 | $8.13 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 Sunday
Local time
2:51 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 8m 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 West Des Moines, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 127 miles and takes about 2h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 63rd Street, I-235 east, John MacVicar Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 63.5 miles from West Des Moines, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.29 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 West Des Moines, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is easy. At 2h 8m 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 West Des Moines, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from West Des Moines, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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