Origin
Cedar Falls, IA
Late night in Cedar Falls on Tuesday
Local time
5:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Falls, IA to Hiawatha, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
59 mi
95 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Hiawatha, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the Iowa Midwest, the 59-mile journey from Cedar Falls to Hiawatha is an efficient option. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 7 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, the route is as wallet-friendly as it is convenient. You will primarily navigate via the Avenue of the Saints, IA 27, and local segments of Main Street. Because the total travel time is quite short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you have additional business in the area. It is a straightforward transit that prioritizes connectivity over long-distance touring.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 44.7 mi | 49m |
| IA 27 | 12.8 mi | 15m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Blairs Ferry Road Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 18th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 9th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Heefner Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 18th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 44.7 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls, IA and Hiawatha, 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
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
5
Turn left onto West 18th Street
40 ft
·
3 sec
·
West 18th Street
6
At end of road, turn straight onto East 18th Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
East 18th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward IA 27 south, IA 58 south
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto IA 27; IA 58
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Turn left onto IA 27
13 mi
·
15 min
·
IA 27
Toward US 20 East, IA 27 South: Dubuque, Cedar Rapids
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
41 mi
·
43 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward IA 100
12
Keep slight right at fork
136 ft
·
5 sec
13
Turn straight onto Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
14
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
395 ft
·
22 sec
·
9th Avenue
15
Turn left onto Heefner Street
174 ft
·
7 sec
·
Heefner Street
16
Arrive at destination
Heefner Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.5 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 17.7 — 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
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 18th Street
At end of road, turn straight onto East 18th Street
Navigation decision point
8
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward IA 27 south, IA 58 south
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward IA 27 south, IA 58 south
5
4.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
IA 27
Turn left onto IA 27 toward US 20 East, IA 27 South: Dubuque, Cedar Rapids
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 East, IA 27 South: Dubuque, Cedar...
6
17.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.22 one way
$18.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.13 | $20.26 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.35 | $22.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.03 | $26.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.19 | $2.83 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.16 | $2.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.26 | $3.78 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Hiawatha, IA
Late night in Hiawatha on Tuesday
Local time
5:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 7m 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 trip features a turn-heavy profile that keeps you engaged rather than lulled into a highway trance. While roughly 22% of the journey takes place on high-speed highways, the rest of the drive shifts into more technical, local road conditions. You will spend the bulk of your time on the 44.7-mile stretch along the Avenue of the Saints, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the trip. As you transition between these faster segments and local streets, be prepared for frequent changes in road rhythm. The mix of highway speed and local maneuvering ensures you stay focused on the road ahead from start to finish.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.7 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 59 miles you will encounter 11 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 (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.4 miles (East 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: 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.
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 Cedar Falls, IA to Hiawatha, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Cedar Rapids along the way.
Cedar Rapids
4.9 mi in
|
~7m
|
via IA 27
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 59 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (22%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.7 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.4 miles (East 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hiawatha, IA before heading back.
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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