Cedar Rapids to Monroe is 109.9 miles and takes about 2 hours 7 minutes via I 80 and State Highway 14, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Iowa, making it a straightforward, single-day excursion. The route is predominantly highway-focused, meaning you'll spend most of your time on faster roads. Given its relatively short distance and duration, this drive is ideal for a quick getaway or a day trip, offering a practical way to travel between these two Iowa locations without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.9 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
73.8 mi
1h 19m
Avenue of the Saints
21.5 mi
24m
State Highway 14
11 mi
16m
29th Street Northeast
1.2 mi
2m
Monroe Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Lindale Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
<1m
Coldstream Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
<1m
Tiffany Drive Northeast
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 73.8 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Monroe, 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 right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
10
Merge onto I 80
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 80
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe
12
Turn left onto State Highway 14
11 mi·16 min·State Highway 14
13
Continue on IA 14
0.5 mi·48 sec·Monroe Street
14
Arrive at destination
IA 14
Trip Plan
For this 109.9-mile drive, leaving in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and take advantage of the relatively short 2-hour duration. Given the modest fuel cost of around $17, filling up before you depart Cedar Rapids is a good idea, though the longest stretch without services is manageable. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to make spontaneous stops if needed, but with only 2 hours of driving, you might not require many. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 80 to State Highway 14, as this is where the main road designation changes.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 54.9 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.8 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 24 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.9 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monroe, 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 109.9 miles and 2h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 73.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 98 — 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
5
23.5 mi into trip|~29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
5
98 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.18 one way
$34.36 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.86
$37.73
premium
$4.89
$21.15
$42.30
diesel
$5.61
$24.26
$48.53
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: 38.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33
0
$11.54
$5.28
Efficient EV
27.5
0
$9.62
$4.40
EV Truck/SUV
44
0
$15.39
$7.03
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Night
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Monroe, IA
Night
in Monroe on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Marengo, IA
55 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
2 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 7m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 77% of the journey taking place on faster routes like I 80 and Avenue of the Saints. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 73.8 miles on I 80, which offers a consistent pace. As you transition to State Highway 14, the driving character may shift slightly, but the overall feel remains geared towards efficient travel. Expect a consistent driving experience for the majority of the trip, with minimal exposure to slower, local roads.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Avenue of the Saints. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lindale Avenue Northeast.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 7m drive. You will face about 9 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 (Lindale Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (29th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 109.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 73.8 miles on I 80. 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 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 Monroe, IA before heading back.
