Origin
West Liberty, IA
Afternoon in West Liberty on Friday
Local time
2:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Liberty, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
51.1 mi
82 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Liberty, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from West Liberty, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 51.1 miles and takes about 1h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, I 80, Garfield Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.6 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.99 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 51.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from West Liberty, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 51.1 miles and takes about 1h 2m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 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 21.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
26.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
6
27.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar...
5
49.3 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward Glass Road, 32nd Street, Coldstream, 29th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Glass Road, 32nd Street, Coldstream, 29t...
5
49.6 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
49.9 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
Oakland Road Northeast
Turn left onto Oakland Road Northeast
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from West Liberty, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo along the way.
Waterloo
27.1 mi in
|
~32m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 21.6 mi | 24m |
| I 80 | 19.6 mi | 21m |
| Garfield Avenue | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| 32nd Street Northeast | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Columbus Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 29th Street Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Oakland Road Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West 3rd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 21.6 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Liberty, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on CR F62
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
West 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto US 6
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Columbus Street
3
Turn right onto CR X40
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Garfield Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
5
Merge onto I 80
20 mi
·
21 min
·
I 80
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
8
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
22 mi
·
24 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Glass Road, 32nd Street, Coldstream, 29th Street
10
Keep slight right at fork
319 ft
·
8 sec
11
Turn straight onto 29th Street Northeast
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
29th Street Northeast
12
Turn left onto Oakland Road Northeast
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Oakland Road Northeast
13
Turn right onto 32nd Street Northeast
0.8 mi
·
1 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.5 mi from West Liberty, IA · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.5 miles from West Liberty, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.99 one way
$15.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.77 | $17.54 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.83 | $19.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.28 | $22.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.37 | $2.45 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.47 | $2.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.15 | $3.27 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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 Friday
Local time
2:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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 2m 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 Liberty, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA covers 51.1 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, I 80, Garfield Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.5 miles from West Liberty, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.99 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 51.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from West Liberty, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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