Cedar Rapids, IA to Milford, IA is 257.8 miles and takes about 5h 12m via Avenue of the Saints and US 71, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest and entirely within Iowa, making it a straightforward trek between two points in the same state. With only one recommended stop and 18% highway share, expect a largely surface road experience. Given the relatively short duration, it's a comfortable one-day trip, offering a practical way to cover ground without being overly demanding.
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
128.9 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
196 mi
3h 43m
US 71
45.6 mi
1h 3m
Highway Boulevard
11.8 mi
15m
32nd Street Northeast
1.2 mi
2m
Grand Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
11th Street Southwest
0.5 mi
1m
4th Avenue Southwest
0.5 mi
<1m
1st Avenue West
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 196 mi, about 3h 43m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,006 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~107 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Milford, 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
148 mi·2 hr 50 min·Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit onto US 71
0.4 mi·57 sec·US 71
Toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm Lake
8
Turn right onto US 71
45 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 71
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto US 71
0.5 mi·1 min·11th Street Southwest
10
Turn left onto 4th Avenue Southwest
0.5 mi·53 sec·4th Avenue Southwest
11
At end of road, turn right onto 4th Street Southwest
0.3 mi·41 sec·4th Street Southwest
12
Turn left onto US 18; US 71
0.4 mi·1 min·South Grand Avenue
13
Turn left onto West 2nd Street
389 ft·9 sec·West 2nd Street
14
Turn right onto 1st Avenue West
0.4 mi·47 sec·1st Avenue West
15
At end of road, turn right onto West 8th Street
384 ft·14 sec·West 8th Street
16
Turn left onto US 18; US 71
0.6 mi·1 min·Grand Avenue
17
Continue on US 18; US 71
12 mi·15 min·Highway Boulevard
18
Arrive at destination
US 71
Trip Plan
For this one-day drive of around 5 hours, leaving Cedar Rapids in the morning is your best bet to ensure you have plenty of daylight for the entire trip. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself, but consider a brief break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading out and after longer stretches on the Avenue of the Saints, as services might be more spaced out on the surface road sections. The $39 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking local prices before you depart is always wise.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 128.9 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196 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 57 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.9 miles or 2h 27m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Milford, 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 257.8 miles and 5h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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 196 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 49.9 and 244.1 — 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
5
197.6 mi into trip|~3h 46m in|US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm...
5
197.9 mi into trip|~3h 47m in|US 71
Turn right onto US 71
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
243.6 mi into trip|~4h 51m in|4th Avenue Southwest
Turn left onto 4th Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
4
244.1 mi into trip|~4h 51m in|4th Street Southwest
At end of road, turn right onto 4th Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.07 one way
$76.14 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$42.03
$84.06
premium
$4.72
$47.87
$95.73
diesel
$4.80
$48.68
$97.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.3
0
$27.07
$12.37
Efficient EV
64.5
0
$22.56
$10.31
EV Truck/SUV
103.1
1
$36.09
$16.50
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Sunday
Local time
1:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Clear
W 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Milford, IA
Late night
in Milford on Sunday
Local time
1:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Clear
N 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
62°F
Hampton, IA
129 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 12m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route involves a significant portion on surface roads, with only 18% on highways. You'll encounter the longest stretch, 196 miles, on the Avenue of the Saints. After that, expect to transition to more local roads and US 71. This means you'll likely experience more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you navigate through towns and rural areas. The profile is mostly surface roads, so be prepared for the rhythm of driving through communities rather than just passing them.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 196 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.
This is a straightforward 5h 12m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 197.6 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 197.9 miles (US 71): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,438 ft808 ft
Total Climb
836 ft
Total Descent
206 ft
Highest Point
1,438 ft
~257.8 mi in
Elevation Range
630 ft
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 Milford, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Storm Lake along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Mother Mosque of America — historic mosque in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
•Douglas and Charlotte Grant House — historic house in Iowa, United States
The longest stretch is about 196 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 49.9 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 197.6 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 197.9 miles (US 71): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Milford, IA before the return drive.
