Origin
Cedar Falls, IA
Late night in Cedar Falls on Wednesday
Local time
3:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Falls, IA to Orange City, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 36m
Distance
226 mi
364 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 23m
★
6 AM
4h 37m
8 AM
5h 3m
10 AM
4h 46m
12 PM
4h 43m
3 PM
4h 47m
5 PM
5h 2m
8 PM
4h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Orange City, IA
Levent Simsek
Trip Overview
Cedar Falls, IA to Orange City, IA is 226 miles and takes about 4h 36m via Main Street, University Avenue, and Grundy Road, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Iowa on primarily surface roads. With a 0% highway share, you'll be navigating local streets and county roads for the entire 226 miles. This route is best suited for those who prefer a more grounded drive, seeing more of the towns and countryside directly. Plan for a single day of travel to comfortably reach your destination.
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
113 miles from Cedar Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 175.4 mi | 3h 23m |
| State Highway 140 | 15.1 mi | 20m |
| County Road L14 | 7 mi | 9m |
| Lee Avenue | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| University Avenue | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Kiwi Avenue | 5 mi | 6m |
| 450th Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| 320th Street | 2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 175.4 mi, about 3h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls, IA and Orange 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
0.8 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
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
University Avenue
8
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
124 ft
·
2 sec
·
University Avenue
9
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
University Avenue
10
Continue on Grundy Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Grundy Road
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto US 20
175 mi
·
3 hr 23 min
·
US 20
13
Turn right onto L21
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Lee Avenue
14
Continue on Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Shamrock Avenue
15
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
320th Street
16
Turn right onto IA 140
15 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 140
17
Continue on L14
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road L14
18
Continue on L14
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Kiwi Avenue
19
At end of road, turn left onto IA 10
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
460th Street
20
Continue on IA 10
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
State Highway 10
21
Continue on IA 10
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Kennedy Avenue
22
Turn left onto IA 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
450th Street
23
Enter roundabout onto 450th Street
81 ft
·
4 sec
·
450th Street
24
Continue on 450th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
450th Street
25
Continue on IA 10
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
8th Street Southeast
26
Turn right onto Albany Avenue Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Albany Avenue Southeast
27
Turn left onto 2nd Street Northeast
430 ft
·
20 sec
·
2nd Street Northeast
28
Arrive at destination
2nd Street Northwest
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 36m estimated drive time and 226-mile distance, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. You'll want to depart Cedar Falls with enough daylight to complete the 226 miles, especially since you'll be on surface roads with a 0% highway share. Consider leaving mid-morning to allow for a leisurely start and still arrive before evening. With only one planned stop and a fuel cost estimated at $36, you can easily pace yourself. Keep an eye out for changes in speed limits as you transition between rural and town areas throughout Iowa.
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 113 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 175.4 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 50 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113 miles or 2h 14m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orange 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.
+
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 226 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 US 20 for about 175.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 113 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 175.4 miles.
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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 219.4 — 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
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
University Avenue
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
7.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
219.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 25m in
|
IA 10 / 460th Street
At end of road, turn left onto IA 10 / 460th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.04 one way
$70.08 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $38.42 | $76.84 |
| premium | $4.93 | $43.85 | $87.70 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $49.82 | $99.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.8 | 0 | $23.73 | $10.85 |
| Efficient EV | 56.5 | 0 | $19.78 | $9.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.4 | 1 | $31.64 | $14.46 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Orange City, IA
Late night in Orange City on Wednesday
Local time
3:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
87°F
Somers, IA
113 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
1 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 36m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive involves 0% highway driving, meaning you'll be on local roads for the full 226 miles. Expect to navigate through towns and rural areas using roads like Main Street, University Avenue, and Grundy Road. With no significant highway stretches, you'll experience continuous surface road cruising. Pay attention to local speed limits as you pass through communities along the way.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 175.4 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and State Highway 140. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 36m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 2.8 miles (University Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,440 ft
878 ft
Total Climb
832 ft
Total Descent
270 ft
Highest Point
1,440 ft
~226 mi in
Elevation Range
562 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Cedar Falls, IA
Full guide →Founded 1845
Cedar Falls is home to University of Northern Iowa, the third-largest public university in the state of Iowa. It is part of a larger metropolitan area that also includes the cities of Waterloo, Hudson, Evansdale, Elk Run Heights, and Raymond. The Cedar River bisects the community from west to east.
Top landmarks
- • Cotton Theatre — theater in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States
- • Cedar Falls Downtown Historic District — nationally recognized historic district located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United Sta...
Arriving in Orange City, IA
Full guide →Founded 1870
Orange City is a city in Western Iowa. The population was 6,004 in the 2010 census.
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 4h 36m. Total distance: 226 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 175.4 miles on US 20. 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 2.8 miles (University Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Orange City, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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