Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
34.7 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monticello, IA
Serena Koi
Cedar Rapids to Monticello is 34.7 miles and takes about 45m via Marion Airport Road and IA 100, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Iowa, making it a convenient local drive. Expect a route with frequent turns rather than long, straight stretches. Given its brief duration, this journey is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure time and pace.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Marion Airport Road | 24.1 mi | 27m |
| IA 100 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| South Main Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| 30th Street Drive Southeast | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| US 151 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| 200th Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Post Road Southeast | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 29th Street Drive Southeast | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Monticello, IA.
Start on Tiperary Drive Northeast
Continue on Tiffany Drive Northeast
At end of road, turn right onto Lindale Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto 29th Street Northeast
Continue on 29th Street Drive Southeast
Continue on 30th Street Drive Southeast
Turn left onto East Post Road Southeast
Turn right onto IA 100
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
Turn right onto US 151
Continue on US 151
Take the exit onto US 151 Business
Turn left onto US 151 Business
Continue on US 151 Business
Turn left onto IA 38
Turn right onto North Maple Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.3 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 34.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto Lindale Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto East Post Road Southeast
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 151 / Marion Airport Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 151 Business / Amber Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto North Maple Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$5.42 one way
$10.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.96 | $11.91 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.68 | $13.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.66 | $15.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.64 | $1.67 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.86 | $2.22 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Night in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Night in Monticello on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
49°F
Springville, IA
17 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.
This is a turn-heavy local drive with only a 12% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 24.1 miles on Marion Airport Road. As you navigate this route, be prepared for a series of adjustments and directional changes, typical of connecting local roads. The character of the drive shifts as you move from one thoroughfare to another, so staying attentive to your navigation is key.
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 Lindale Avenue Northeast.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 45m 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 (Lindale Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (East Post Road Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles (US 151 / Marion Airport Road): Navigation decision point.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 34.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (12%). 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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