If you are looking to travel from Cedar Rapids to Cresco, you are looking at a 111.4-mile trek through the heart of the Midwest. Expect the journey to take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, making it a perfectly manageable day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will navigate a mix of local routes, including Crystal Drive Northeast, 32nd Street Northeast, and the Avenue of the Saints. With a fuel budget of about $17, this is an economical way to cross this stretch of Iowa. Whether you are heading north for business or a quick getaway, this route offers a straightforward path between these two Midwestern locations.
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
55.7 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
32.1 mi
34m
Union Avenue
20.8 mi
28m
Viking Avenue
13.3 mi
18m
Baxter Avenue
10.6 mi
14m
Willow Avenue
9.9 mi
13m
Benson Shady Grove Avenue
7.1 mi
9m
Y Avenue
5 mi
8m
230th Street
3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 32.1 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Cresco, IA.
1
Start on Tiperary Drive Northeast
0.1 mi·32 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
2
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·13 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
3
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.2 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
5
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
32 mi·34 min·Avenue of the Saints
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward CR V65: Jesup, La Porte City
7
Turn right onto CR V65
1.0 mi·1 min·South Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue
8
Continue on CR V65
7.1 mi·9 min·Benson Shady Grove Avenue
9
At end of road, turn left onto CR D22
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Street
10
Turn right onto V62
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
11
Continue on CR V62
9.0 mi·12 min·Baxter Avenue
12
Enter roundabout onto CR V62
129 ft·2 sec·Baxter Avenue
13
Continue on CR V62
1.5 mi·2 min·Baxter Avenue
14
Continue on Walnut Street South
0.3 mi·51 sec·Walnut Street South
15
Turn left onto Fairbank Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Fairbank Street
16
Continue on IA 281
1.0 mi·1 min·102nd Street
17
Turn right onto North Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue
18
Continue on Y Avenue
5.0 mi·8 min·Y Avenue
19
Turn left onto IA 3
3.0 mi·4 min·230th Street
20
Turn right onto V56
13 mi·18 min·Viking Avenue
21
Continue on V56
11 mi·15 min·Union Avenue
22
Continue on V56
437 ft·10 sec·County Highway V56
23
Turn right onto IA 24
0.5 mi·53 sec·State Highway 24
24
Turn left onto Union Avenue
9.7 mi·13 min·Union Avenue
25
Turn right onto 100th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·100th Street
26
Turn left onto Willow Avenue
9.9 mi·13 min·Willow Avenue
27
Continue on 3rd Street Southwest
1.2 mi·2 min·3rd Street Southwest
28
Continue on 3rd Street West
0.6 mi·1 min·3rd Street West
29
Turn right onto 8th Avenue West
0.3 mi·1 min·8th Avenue West
30
Arrive at destination
8th Avenue East
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You only need to account for one planned stop to keep the drive comfortable throughout the 111.4-mile distance. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, try to depart during daylight hours to ensure you can clearly see the road transitions and signage along the way. Budgeting $17 for fuel should cover you easily, but it is always smart to fill up before leaving Cedar Rapids to avoid any stress. A great way to pace yourself is to identify that one stop halfway through the drive to stretch your legs before tackling the final leg into Cresco.
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 55.7 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.1 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 25 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.7 miles or 1h 10m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cresco, 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 111.4 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 32.1 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 33.7 and 55.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
33.7 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward CR V65: Jesup, La Porte City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CR V65: Jesup, La Porte City
4
42.1 mi into trip|~50m in|CR D22 / South Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR D22 / South Street
Navigation decision point
4
52.4 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|CR V62 / Baxter Avenue
Enter roundabout onto CR V62 / Baxter Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
54.2 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|Fairbank Street
Turn left onto Fairbank Street
Navigation decision point
4
55.5 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|North Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue
Turn right onto North Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.42 one way
$34.83 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.12
$38.24
premium
$4.89
$21.44
$42.88
diesel
$5.61
$24.60
$49.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.4
0
$11.70
$5.35
Efficient EV
27.9
0
$9.75
$4.46
EV Truck/SUV
44.6
0
$15.60
$7.13
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Night
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Cresco, IA
Night
in Cresco on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
10 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 30m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this path relies entirely on local roads, meaning you will experience zero highway miles. The route maintains a consistent, technical feel as you transition through the various local segments. Because the road is characterized by frequent turns rather than long, straight stretches, you will find the driving experience much more interactive than a typical high-speed cruise. Keep your eyes on the road and be ready to navigate the specific local turnoffs that define this 2.5-hour journey.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.1 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 33.7 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 30m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 33.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.1 miles (CR D22 / South Street): Navigation decision point; at 52.4 miles (CR V62 / Baxter Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cedar Rapids, IA and Cresco, IA, road signs point toward Cr V65: Jesup and La Porte City.
Cr V65: Jesup
33.7 mi in|~38m
La Porte City
33.7 mi in|~38m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 111.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 32.1 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 33.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.1 miles (CR D22 / South Street): Navigation decision point; at 52.4 miles (CR V62 / Baxter Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cresco, IA before heading back.
