Spanning 300.1 miles across Iowa, this cross-state journey connects Cedar Rapids to George in approximately 6 hours and 8 minutes. Because the trip is manageable within a single day, you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting about $46 for fuel will cover your transit across the Midwest landscape. You will utilize a mix of routes including the Avenue of the Saints, 20th Avenue, and State Highway 3 to reach your destination. It is a straightforward trip that serves as a practical link between these two Iowa communities.
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
150 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
207.5 mi
3h 56m
20th Avenue
9.2 mi
12m
State Highway 3
8.8 mi
12m
IA 60
7.1 mi
8m
320th Street
6.3 mi
8m
Armstrong Avenue
6 mi
8m
D Avenue
5.7 mi
7m
L14
5.7 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 207.5 mi, about 3h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and George, 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
48 mi·52 min·Avenue of the Saints
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
159 mi·3 hr 3 min·Avenue of the Saints
7
Turn right onto CR M27
6.0 mi·8 min·Armstrong Avenue
8
Continue on CR M27
9.2 mi·12 min·20th Avenue
9
Turn left onto IA 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 7
10
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi·2 min·State Highway 7
11
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi·2 min·1st Street
12
Continue on IA 7
1.9 mi·2 min·V Avenue
13
Turn left onto IA 3
0.2 mi·22 sec·State Highway 3
14
Turn straight onto IA 3
3.1 mi·4 min·530th Street
15
Turn right onto IA 3
4.5 mi·6 min·State Highway 3
16
Continue on IA 3
2.5 mi·3 min·500th Street
17
Continue on IA 3
4.2 mi·5 min·State Highway 3
18
Continue on IA 3
5.0 mi·7 min·490th Street
19
Turn right onto IA 143
1.3 mi·2 min·Ames Avenue
20
Continue on IA 143
5.7 mi·7 min·D Avenue
21
Continue on IA 143
5.0 mi·6 min·Nettle Avenue
22
Turn left onto IA 10
3.5 mi·4 min·460th Street
23
Continue on IA 10
0.5 mi·1 min·Garfield Street
24
Continue on IA 10
1.0 mi·1 min·460th Street
25
Turn right onto L22
5.5 mi·7 min·Log Avenue
26
Turn right onto IA 60
7.1 mi·8 min·IA 60
27
Take the exit onto IA 60 Business
0.3 mi·43 sec·IA 60 Business
Toward CR L26, IA 60 Business: 2nd Avenue
28
Turn left onto IA 60 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue
29
Turn left onto CR B20
360 ft·9 sec·West 16th Street
30
Turn right onto CR L26
1.0 mi·1 min·Western Avenue
31
At end of road, turn left onto US 18
0.3 mi·27 sec·320th Street
32
Continue on US 18
0.7 mi·58 sec·West Park Street
33
Continue on US 18
6.0 mi·8 min·320th Street
34
Turn right onto CR L14
0.5 mi·1 min·Colfax Street
35
Continue on CR L14
3.8 mi·5 min·Kennedy Avenue
36
Continue on L14
5.7 mi·8 min·L14
37
Continue on South Virginia Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Virginia Street
38
Turn left onto East Boiler Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·East Boiler Avenue
39
Turn right onto South Main Street
377 ft·16 sec·South Main Street
40
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Plan for a single stop during your 6-hour trek to keep your energy levels steady throughout the day. Since this is a turn-heavy route, try to depart early in the morning to ensure you are navigating the local segments during daylight hours. Keep a close eye on your navigation when transitioning between the Avenue of the Saints and State Highway 3, as these shifts require more focus than a standard interstate cruise. Given the 300.1-mile distance, having your fuel budget of $46 ready before you hit the road will help keep your travel day efficient. Flexibility is your best asset here, so don't hesitate to take a break if the local road sections feel particularly demanding.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 150 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 207.5 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 66 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near George, 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 300.1 miles and 6h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 207.5 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 49.9 and 280 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
49.9 mi into trip|~56m in|US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
209.1 mi into trip|~4h in|CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue
Turn right onto CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
250.3 mi into trip|~4h 57m in|IA 143 / Ames Avenue
Turn right onto IA 143 / Ames Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
262.3 mi into trip|~5h 14m in|IA 10 / 460th Street
Turn left onto IA 10 / 460th Street
Navigation decision point
5
280 mi into trip|~5h 37m 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
$46.92 one way
$93.83 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$51.51
$103.03
premium
$4.89
$57.75
$115.50
diesel
$5.61
$66.26
$132.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90
1
$31.51
$14.40
Efficient EV
75
0
$26.26
$12.00
EV Truck/SUV
120
1
$42.01
$19.21
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Evening
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
8:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
George, IA
Evening
in George on Saturday
Local time
8:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Centerville, IA
150 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
26 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
6h 8m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 drive that transitions from major corridors to more technical, turn-heavy local roads. While you spend a significant portion of your time on the Avenue of the Saints—which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 207.5 miles—only 6% of the total journey is classified as highway driving. This means you should prepare for a more hands-on experience behind the wheel once you exit the primary arterials. The personality of the route shifts as you move away from the major road systems, requiring more attention during the local segments of the drive. The combination of high-speed stretches and winding local lanes keeps the journey engaging from start to finish.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 207.5 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 49.9 miles in near US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 8m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 18 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 49.9 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 209.1 miles (CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 250.3 miles (IA 143 / Ames Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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 George, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Cr L26 along the way.
Cr L26
280 mi in|~5h 37m|via IA 60 Business
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 8m. Total distance: 300.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 207.5 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at George, 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 49.9 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 209.1 miles (CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 250.3 miles (IA 143 / Ames Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at George, IA before the return drive.
