Connecting Cedar Falls to Iowa City is a straightforward 90.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 48 minutes. Because the total duration is quite manageable, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You can expect to spend approximately $14 on fuel for the round trip, making it an affordable excursion within the Midwest. The drive utilizes a combination of the Avenue of the Saints, IA 27, and I-80 to get you to your destination efficiently. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, this connection offers a practical path across the heart of Iowa.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.2 miles from Cedar Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
68.8 mi
1h 17m
IA 27
12.8 mi
15m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
East 18th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Kimball Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 68.8 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls, IA and Iowa City, 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 southUse 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
65 mi·1 hr 11 min·Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
12
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
13
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
15
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
16
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
17
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
18
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip with no mandatory stops, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it best fits your schedule. With a total distance of 90.3 miles, you can easily complete the drive without needing to plan for meal breaks or rest stops along the way. Keep in mind that with $14 earmarked for fuel, it is wise to fill up before you leave to avoid mid-trip delays. Given the turn-heavy nature of the local sections, try to avoid making this drive during peak traffic hours if you prefer a more relaxed pace. Use the long 68.8-mile stretch on the Avenue of the Saints to settle into a steady rhythm before navigating the final local segments into Iowa City.
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 45.2 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.8 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 20 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.2 miles or 52m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Iowa City, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cedar Falls, IA
This is one driving day of about 90.3 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Cedar Falls, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 68.8 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 14
5 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
$14.12 one way
$28.23 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.50
$31.00
premium
$4.89
$17.38
$34.75
diesel
$5.61
$19.94
$39.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.1
0
$9.48
$4.33
Efficient EV
22.6
0
$7.90
$3.61
EV Truck/SUV
36.1
0
$12.64
$5.78
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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
Cedar Falls, IA
Night
in Cedar Falls on Saturday
Local time
9:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Night
in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
9:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
23 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 48m 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 bit of a transition behind the wheel as you navigate this 90.3-mile path. While 19% of the trip is spent on highways, the character of the drive is defined by its turn-heavy, local nature rather than a simple interstate grind. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Avenue of the Saints, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the journey at 68.8 miles. Because the road changes from faster highway segments to more technical local stretches, you will need to stay alert throughout the drive. It is a functional route that keeps you moving, though it requires more active steering than a standard highway cruise.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.8 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 90.3 miles you will encounter 14 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.
On the drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Iowa City, 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 48m. Total distance: 90.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.8 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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 Iowa City, 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 (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 Iowa City, IA before heading back.
