Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
37.8 mi
61 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, IA
Roger Ce
This 37.8-mile drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Independence, IA is a straightforward local journey that can easily be completed in about 48 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $6, it's an economical option for a quick trip. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Avenue of the Saints and Jamestown Avenue, with no highway driving involved, making it a turn-heavy experience. Since it’s a short distance and duration, this trip is ideal as a single-day excursion. You'll remain within the Midwest region throughout this short hop between Iowa towns. This drive is best suited for those who prefer navigating local streets over high-speed highways.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 20.4 mi | 22m |
| Jamestown Avenue | 10.4 mi | 14m |
| 31st Avenue | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| 3rd Avenue Southeast | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 32nd Street Northeast | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| 1st Street East | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Tiperary Drive Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Crystal Drive Northeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Independence, IA.
Start on Tiperary Drive Northeast
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
Take the exit
Turn right onto IA 150
Continue on IA 150
Continue on IA 150
Turn right onto IA 150; CR D22
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Southeast
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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.
A short stop after about 37.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 18.9 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 37.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Continue onto Crystal Drive Northeast
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward IA 150: Independence, Vinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Southeast
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$5.91 one way
$11.82 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.49 | $12.98 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.27 | $14.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.35 | $16.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.97 | $1.81 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.31 | $1.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Cedar Rapids on Sunday
Local time
2:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Clear
Destination
Late night in Independence on Sunday
Local time
2:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
49°F
Center Point, IA
19 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 48-minute, 37.8-mile trip. With a 0% highway share, you'll be navigating primarily through town and county roads, including stretches on Avenue of the Saints, Jamestown Avenue, and 31st Avenue. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 20.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints, offering a brief period of consistent travel before more turns resume. This road profile means you'll be actively engaged with steering and navigation rather than simply cruising on an interstate.
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 0.1 miles in near Crystal Drive Northeast.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 48m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Crystal Drive Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (32nd Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Independence, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Vinton along the way.
Vinton
Cedar Rapids is a city in Eastern Iowa. In 2016, it was the second largest city in Iowa by population and is home to about 137,000 residents. Largely known as an industrial, working class city, Cedar Rapids has begun to grow and expand employment opportunities in the service sector, attracting new residents to the area. While out of the way of most major travel routes and destinations, a stop in Cedar Rapids may uncover a great taste of the Midwest. Typical Iowa hospitality is not lost here.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 37.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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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