Cedar Falls to Sheldon is 227 miles and takes about 4 hours 42 minutes via US 20, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route keeps you within the Midwest, traversing the state of Iowa from east to midpoint. It's a straightforward trip, primarily on a major highway, making it a good option if you're looking for an efficient way to get between these two points without much fuss. Consider this drive when you need a reliable, no-frills transit across Iowa.
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
113.6 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
147 mi
2h 49m
20th Avenue
9.2 mi
12m
State Highway 3
8.8 mi
12m
IA 60
7.1 mi
8m
Armstrong Avenue
6 mi
8m
D Avenue
5.7 mi
7m
Log Avenue
5.5 mi
7m
University Avenue
5.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 147 mi, about 2h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls, IA and Sheldon, 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
147 mi·2 hr 49 min·US 20
13
Turn right onto CR M27
6.0 mi·8 min·Armstrong Avenue
14
Continue on CR M27
9.2 mi·12 min·20th Avenue
15
Turn left onto IA 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 7
16
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi·2 min·State Highway 7
17
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi·2 min·1st Street
18
Continue on IA 7
1.9 mi·2 min·V Avenue
19
Turn left onto IA 3
0.2 mi·22 sec·State Highway 3
20
Turn straight onto IA 3
3.1 mi·4 min·530th Street
21
Turn right onto IA 3
4.5 mi·6 min·State Highway 3
22
Continue on IA 3
2.5 mi·3 min·500th Street
23
Continue on IA 3
4.2 mi·5 min·State Highway 3
24
Continue on IA 3
5.0 mi·7 min·490th Street
25
Turn right onto IA 143
1.3 mi·2 min·Ames Avenue
26
Continue on IA 143
5.7 mi·7 min·D Avenue
27
Continue on IA 143
5.0 mi·6 min·Nettle Avenue
28
Turn left onto IA 10
3.5 mi·4 min·460th Street
29
Continue on IA 10
0.5 mi·1 min·Garfield Street
30
Continue on IA 10
1.0 mi·1 min·460th Street
31
Turn right onto L22
5.5 mi·7 min·Log Avenue
32
Turn right onto IA 60
7.1 mi·8 min·IA 60
33
Take the exit onto IA 60 Business
0.3 mi·43 sec·IA 60 Business
Toward CR L26, IA 60 Business: 2nd Avenue
34
Turn left onto IA 60 Business
1.5 mi·2 min·2nd Avenue
35
Turn right onto 9th Street
25 ft·0 sec·9th Street
36
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Trip Plan
For this 4 hour 42 minute drive, leaving Cedar Falls in the morning allows ample time to reach Sheldon before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to decide when and where to take a break along the 227 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longest stretch of 147 miles on US 20, as services might be less frequent in some sections. The estimated fuel cost is $36, so plan accordingly. Given the relatively short duration, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without feeling rushed.
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 113.6 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 147 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 113.6 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sheldon, 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 227.3 miles and 4h 42m.
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 147 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 225.4 — 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
225.4 mi into trip|~4h 38m in|IA 60 Business
Take the exit onto IA 60 Business toward CR L26, IA 60 Business: 2nd Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CR L26, IA 60 Business: 2nd Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.57 one way
$67.13 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.06
$74.11
premium
$4.72
$42.20
$84.41
diesel
$4.80
$42.92
$85.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.2
0
$23.87
$10.91
Efficient EV
56.8
0
$19.89
$9.09
EV Truck/SUV
90.9
1
$31.82
$14.55
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Cedar Falls, IA
Late night
in Cedar Falls on Sunday
Local time
5:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
N 9 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 10:14AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Sheldon, IA
Late night
in Sheldon on Sunday
Local time
5:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 10:14AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
91°F
Lake City, IA
114 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 42m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 73% of this 227-mile drive on highways, with the majority of that time on US 20. Expect a solid 147-mile stretch on US 20 before you transition to other roads. The route profile is mostly highway, so anticipate more consistent speeds and fewer stops for traffic lights compared to a surface-road-heavy trip. You'll notice the shift from continuous highway to surface roads as you approach your destination.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 147 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and 20th Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 42m 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.
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...
The longest stretch is about 147 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Sheldon, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
