Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Morning in Cedar Rapids on Sunday
Local time
8:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Iowa City, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
42m
Distance
31.2 mi
50 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, you are looking at a quick 31.6-mile commute across the Iowa Midwest. This journey typically takes about 37 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $5, the transit is highly economical for solo travelers or small groups. Since there are zero planned stops along the way, you can easily complete the drive in one efficient stretch. It is a straightforward connection between two major regional hubs that prioritizes speed and directness over leisure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 21.5 mi | 24m |
| I 80 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| 29th Street Northeast | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Dubuque Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Gilbert Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Lindale Avenue Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Coldstream Avenue Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Tiffany Drive Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 21.5 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Iowa City, 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 left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
10
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
I 80
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Downtown
12
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Dubuque Street
13
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kimball Road
14
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Gilbert Street
15
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 23.5 — 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
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
29th Street Northeast
Turn right onto 29th Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
4
23.3 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward I 80
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80
5
23.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.88 one way
$9.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.36 | $10.71 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.00 | $12.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.89 | $13.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.28 | $1.50 |
| Efficient EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.73 | $1.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.37 | $2.00 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Iowa City, IA
Morning in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
8:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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
42m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Because the highway share is zero percent, you will navigate local thoroughfares like Tiffany Drive Northeast, Lindale Avenue Northeast, and 29th Street Northeast throughout the entire trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch is effectively nonexistent on Tiffany Drive Northeast, meaning you should be prepared for frequent maneuvering and turns. This route lacks the high-speed isolation of a major highway, offering a more hands-on experience behind the wheel. It is a practical, functional drive that requires your full attention as you transition between these two cities.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.5 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lindale Avenue Northeast.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 31.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lindale Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (29th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
813 ft
666 ft
Total Climb
249 ft
Total Descent
390 ft
Highest Point
813 ft
~8.9 mi in
Elevation Range
146 ft
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 Iowa City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
29 mi in
|
~36m
About the Cities
Starting in Cedar Rapids, IA
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 31.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.5 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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 Iowa City, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lindale Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (29th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Iowa City, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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