Buffalo, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is 88 miles and takes about 1h 43m via I 280 and Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, moving you from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's perfect for a single day. With only a little over an hour and a half of driving time, you'll have plenty of flexibility for when you depart and how you spend your time upon arrival. The majority of this journey is on major roadways, making it an efficient way to get from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44 miles from Buffalo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 280
58 mi
1h 4m
Avenue of the Saints
21.6 mi
24m
West Front Street
2.9 mi
4m
Rockingham Road
2.2 mi
3m
32nd Street Northeast
0.8 mi
1m
29th Street Northeast
0.3 mi
<1m
Oakland Road Northeast
0.3 mi
<1m
Tiperary Drive Northeast
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 280
— 58 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Street
35 ft·5 sec·2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
375 ft·16 sec·Jefferson Street
3
Turn left onto IA 22
2.9 mi·4 min·West Front Street
4
Continue on IA 22
2.2 mi·3 min·Rockingham Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
6
Merge onto I 280
58 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 280
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
9
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
22 mi·24 min·Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward Glass Road, 32nd Street, Coldstream, 29th Street
11
Keep slight right at fork
319 ft·8 sec
12
Turn straight onto 29th Street Northeast
0.3 mi·36 sec·29th Street Northeast
13
Turn left onto Oakland Road Northeast
0.3 mi·29 sec·Oakland Road Northeast
14
Turn right onto 32nd Street Northeast
0.8 mi·1 min·32nd Street Northeast
15
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
16
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
17
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
18
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 88-mile drive taking just over 1.5 hours, you have the luxury of flexibility with your departure time. Aim to leave Buffalo, IA after morning rush hour to make your arrival in Cedar Rapids smoother. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, you won't need to worry much about refueling, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. The longest stretch on I 280 is 58 miles, so plan for a brief stop before or after that segment if you like to break up longer periods of driving, though it's not strictly necessary for this short distance. Enjoy the straightforward nature of this drive and the ease of reaching your destination.
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 44 miles from Buffalo, IA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44 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 26m
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 Buffalo, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buffalo, IA
This is one driving day of about 88 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Buffalo, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 280 for about 58 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 86.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Jefferson Street
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
63.7 mi into trip|~1h 12m 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
64 mi into trip|~1h 13m 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
86.3 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.4
0
$9.24
$4.22
Efficient EV
22
0
$7.70
$3.52
EV Truck/SUV
35.2
0
$12.32
$5.63
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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 20, 2026
Origin
Buffalo, IA
Late night
in Buffalo on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
1h 43m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this 88-mile trip, with 66% of your journey utilizing major highways like I 280 and Avenue of the Saints. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 58 miles on I 280, so you'll have a good period of consistent driving. While the route is primarily on faster roads, keep an eye out for transitions as you near your destination; West Front Street is mentioned as a main road, suggesting a shift from highway speeds. Overall, this route offers a practical and efficient driving experience.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58 mi on I 280.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 280 and Avenue of the Saints. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jefferson Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 88 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: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 63.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Buffalo, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo along the way.
Cedar Rapids is a city in Eastern Iowa. In 2016, it was the second largest city in Iowa by population and is home to about 137,000 residents. Largely known as an industrial, working class city, Cedar Rapids has begun to grow and expand employment opportunities in the service sector, attracting new residents to the area. While out of the way of most major travel routes and destinations, a stop in Cedar Rapids may uncover a great taste of the Midwest. Typical Iowa hospitality is not lost here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 88 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58 miles on I 280. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 63.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cedar Rapids, IA before heading back.
