Origin
Cedar Falls, IA
Afternoon in Cedar Falls on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Falls, IA to Centerville, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 38m
Distance
146.5 mi
236 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 26m
★
6 AM
3h 38m
8 AM
4h 3m
10 AM
3h 47m
12 PM
3h 45m
3 PM
3h 48m
5 PM
4h 2m
8 PM
3h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Centerville, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Cedar Falls to Centerville is 146.5 miles and takes about 3h 38m via Montezuma Street, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, traveling from Iowa to Iowa. Expect a turn-heavy local road experience for most of this journey, so plan for a more engaged drive rather than a simple highway cruise. With a total duration under four hours, this is a straightforward trip easily completed in a single day, making it ideal for a quick getaway or a day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73.3 miles from Cedar Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Montezuma Street | 22 mi | 32m |
| South Clinton Street | 20.6 mi | 30m |
| J Avenue | 18 mi | 26m |
| South Main Street | 14.5 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 137 | 14.5 mi | 21m |
| North Main Street | 8.4 mi | 12m |
| 100th Street | 8 mi | 12m |
| Hudson Road | 7.9 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
Montezuma Street
— 22 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls, IA and Centerville, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
52 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
2
Continue on Main Street
61 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
3
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
104 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
4
Continue on Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
5
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
78 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
6
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Main Street
7
Turn right onto University Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
University Avenue
8
Turn left onto Hudson Road
7.9 mi
·
12 min
·
Hudson Road
9
Turn right onto US 63
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Sergeant Road
10
Continue on US 63
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
South Hudson Road
11
Continue on US 63
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Q Avenue
12
Continue on US 63
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road D65
13
Continue on US 63
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
North Main Street
14
Turn left onto US 63
12 mi
·
17 min
·
J Avenue
15
Continue on US 63
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North County Road
16
Continue on US 63
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Harding Street
17
Turn left onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West 13th Street
18
Turn right onto US 63
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
State Street
19
Continue on US 63
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
J Avenue
20
Continue on US 63
8.0 mi
·
12 min
·
100th Street
21
Turn left onto US 6; US 63
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
380th Avenue
22
Turn right onto US 63
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
120th Street
23
Continue on US 63
22 mi
·
32 min
·
Montezuma Street
24
Turn left onto US 63
14 mi
·
22 min
·
South Main Street
25
Take the ramp onto US 63
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
US 63
26
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
27
Turn right onto IA 137
14 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 137
28
Continue on IA 5
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
29
Turn straight onto IA 5
21 mi
·
30 min
·
South Clinton Street
30
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Washington Street
31
Turn left onto North 13th Street
359 ft
·
15 sec
·
North 13th Street
32
Continue on North 13th Street
302 ft
·
13 sec
·
North 13th Street
33
Arrive at destination
North 13th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 38m estimated drive time, leaving Cedar Falls in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Centerville. Since this is a single-day trip, flexibility is key; you can depart at your leisure. Be mindful of the 'turn-heavy' nature of this route, as you'll be making frequent turns, so stay alert and keep your eyes on navigation. With a fuel cost estimated at $23, ensure your tank is full before departing Cedar Falls to avoid unexpected stops, as the longest stretch without a major turn is only 22 miles.
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 73.3 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22 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 32 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.3 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Centerville, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cedar Falls, 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 Cedar Falls, IA
This is one driving day of about 146.5 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Cedar Falls, 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 Montezuma Street for about 22 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
73 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 73.3 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 146.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Main Street
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
University Avenue
Turn right onto University Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
31.3 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
US 63 / J Avenue
Turn left onto US 63 / J Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
146.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 37m in
|
North 13th Street
Turn left onto North 13th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.90 one way
$45.81 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.15 | $50.29 |
| premium | $4.89 | $28.19 | $56.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.35 | $64.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.9 | 0 | $15.38 | $7.03 |
| Efficient EV | 36.6 | 0 | $12.82 | $5.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.6 | 0 | $20.51 | $9.38 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Centerville, IA
Afternoon in Centerville on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Brooklyn, IA
73 mi in
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
24 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
3h 38m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only about 15% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a more involved driving experience, navigating through local roads that require frequent adjustments. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 22 miles on Montezuma Street, so you won't be on a single road for an extended period. Prepare for a dynamic drive that keeps you engaged with the changing landscape and road conditions as you make your way south.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22 mi on Montezuma Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Centerville, IA is easy. At 3h 38m with 15% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.8 miles (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1 miles (University Avenue): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Centerville, IA
Full guide →Centerville is in South Central Iowa.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 146.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (15%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22 miles on Montezuma Street. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.8 miles (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1 miles (University Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Centerville, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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