Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Night in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
11:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Albia, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 47m
Distance
129.4 mi
208 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 37m
★
6 AM
2h 48m
8 AM
3h 10m
10 AM
2h 55m
12 PM
2h 53m
3 PM
2h 57m
5 PM
3h 9m
8 PM
2h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albia, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Cedar Rapids to Albia is 129 miles and takes about 2 hours 47 minutes via I 80 and US 63, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, moving from one part of Iowa to another. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on well-maintained highways, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the interstate, so expect a steady pace. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day trip without feeling rushed.
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
64.7 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 46.4 mi | 49m |
| US 63 | 28.5 mi | 40m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 21.5 mi | 24m |
| South Main Street | 14.5 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 137 | 14.5 mi | 21m |
| 29th Street Northeast | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lindale Avenue Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 46.4 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Albia, IA.
1
Start on Tiperary Drive Northeast
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
Tiperary Drive Northeast
2
Continue on Tiffany Drive Northeast
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Tiffany Drive Northeast
3
At end of road, turn right onto Lindale Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Lindale Avenue Northeast
4
Turn right onto 29th Street Northeast
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
29th Street Northeast
5
Continue on Coldstream Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Coldstream Avenue Northeast
6
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
7
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
22 mi
·
24 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 80
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
10
Merge onto I 80
46 mi
·
49 min
·
I 80
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward US 63: Montezuma, Tama
12
Turn left onto US 63
21 mi
·
31 min
·
US 63
13
Turn left onto US 63
14 mi
·
22 min
·
South Main Street
14
Take the ramp onto US 63
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
US 63
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
16
Turn right onto IA 137
14 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 137
17
Continue on IA 5
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Main Street
18
Turn left onto CR H35
356 ft
·
9 sec
·
Benton Avenue East
19
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
170 ft
·
12 sec
·
South 2nd Street
20
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 129-mile journey, departing Cedar Rapids in the morning allows ample time to reach Albia by the afternoon. With a drive time under 3 hours, you likely won't need extensive stops, but planning one break around the halfway point is wise. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without exits on I 80 is over 46 miles. The fuel cost is estimated at $20, so ensure you start with a sufficient amount. This is a route where you can easily be flexible with your departure time, making it perfect for a spontaneous trip.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.7 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.4 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 28 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.7 miles or 1h 13m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albia, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cedar Rapids, 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 Rapids, IA
This is one driving day of about 129.4 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Cedar Rapids, 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 I 80 for about 46.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.7 miles from Cedar Rapids, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 129.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Lindale Avenue Northeast
At end of road, turn right onto Lindale Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
23.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
5
70.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 63: Montezuma, Tama
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 63: Montezuma, Tama
5
129.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 47m in
|
South 2nd Street
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.23 one way
$40.46 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.21 | $44.42 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.90 | $49.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.57 | $57.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.8 | 0 | $13.59 | $6.21 |
| Efficient EV | 32.4 | 0 | $11.32 | $5.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.8 | 0 | $18.12 | $8.28 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Albia, IA
Night in Albia on Saturday
Local time
11:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Brooklyn, IA
65 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
3 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
2h 47m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 69% of the route utilizing major highways like I 80 and US 63. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 46.4 miles on I 80, offering a good opportunity for consistent speed. While the majority of the journey is on faster roads, the inclusion of US 63 and Avenue of the Saints means you'll experience some variation, potentially with more local traffic as you get closer to your destination. Expect a predominantly smooth driving experience, characterized by efficient travel.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.4 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 63. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lindale Avenue Northeast.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 129.4 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 0.1 miles (Lindale Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 23.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Rapids, IA to Albia, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Tama along the way.
Tama
70.6 mi in
|
~1h 20m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 129.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.4 miles on I 80. 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 Albia, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lindale Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 23.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Albia, 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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