This 209-mile drive from Audubon to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is comfortably manageable within a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 6 minutes. The route primarily follows US 6 and the historic Lincoln Highway, offering a mixed driving experience. With a projected fuel cost of around $33, this trip is budget-friendly. You'll encounter one planned stop, and the longest stretch without a break is 62 miles on US 6. This journey through the heart of the Midwest is ideal for a straightforward day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time and pacing.
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
104.5 miles from Audubon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 6
62 mi
1h 7m
Lincoln Highway
37 mi
42m
Northeast Hubbell Road
33.5 mi
39m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
I 80
18.9 mi
21m
Highway 71
14.3 mi
19m
IA 100
8.3 mi
9m
32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 6
— 62 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Audubon, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on US 71
0.6 mi·1 min·South Market Street
2
Continue on US 71
12 mi·16 min·Highway 71
3
Continue on US 71
1.0 mi·1 min·Lincoln Street
4
Continue on US 71
2.5 mi·3 min·Highway 71
5
Continue on US 71
0.6 mi·55 sec·650th Street
6
Turn left onto US 6
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·US 6
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi·5 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
9
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi·1 min·US 65
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
11
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
13
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
14
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
15
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
16
Continue on IA 100
8.3 mi·9 min·IA 100
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
20
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
0.5 mi·38 sec·Avenue of the Saints
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
22
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 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·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
26
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
27
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 6-minute drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to allow ample daylight. With only one stop suggested and a longest stretch of 62 miles on US 6, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during that longer stretch, and consider topping off before you leave Audubon. The relatively short duration means you'll have flexibility in your schedule once you arrive in Cedar Rapids.
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 104.5 miles from Audubon, IA, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62 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 46 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.5 miles or 2h 1m 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 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 Audubon, 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 Audubon, IA
This is one driving day of about 209 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Audubon, 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 6 for about 62 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 78.6 and 206.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
78.6 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
93 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
97.5 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
7
206.4 mi into trip|~4h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
7
206.5 mi into trip|~4h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.67 one way
$65.35 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$35.88
$71.75
premium
$4.89
$40.22
$80.44
diesel
$5.61
$46.14
$92.29
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: 73.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.7
0
$21.94
$10.03
Efficient EV
52.3
0
$18.29
$8.36
EV Truck/SUV
83.6
1
$29.26
$13.38
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Audubon, IA
Night
in Audubon on Saturday
Local time
11:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Night
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
11:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
26 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 6m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this 209-mile journey, with about 50% of the route being highway. You'll navigate stretches of US 6 and the Lincoln Highway, which can feel like a traditional American road trip. The longest uninterrupted segment measures 62 miles on US 6, so plan accordingly for fuel and breaks. This route offers a blend of faster highway driving and more local road experiences as you travel across Iowa.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62 mi on US 6.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 78.6 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 209 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 78.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Audubon, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Bondurant and Marion.
Minneapolis
78.6 mi in|~1h 30m|via I 80
Kansas City
78.6 mi in|~1h 30m|via I 80
Bondurant
97.5 mi in|~1h 52m|via US 65
Marion
196.9 mi in|~3h 49m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 6m. Total distance: 209 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62 miles on US 6. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cedar Rapids, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 78.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Cedar Rapids, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
