Cedar Rapids, IA to Nashua, IA is 92.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 48 minutes via Avenue of the Saints and I 380, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily through the Midwest region, staying within Iowa. Expect a drive that involves a fair number of turns, so keep your navigation handy. It's a relatively short journey, making it ideal for a relaxed travel day or as a segment of a larger road trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.3 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
79.9 mi
1h 29m
I 380
5.6 mi
7m
Leo P Rooff Expressway
2.1 mi
2m
West Washington Street
1.3 mi
1m
32nd Street Northeast
1.2 mi
2m
US 218
0.7 mi
1m
Sample Street
0.7 mi
1m
West Washington Expressway
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 79.9 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Nashua, 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 right at fork onto I 380
5.6 mi·7 min·I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
7
Continue on US 218
0.2 mi·18 sec·West Washington Expressway
8
Continue on US 218
0.7 mi·51 sec·Leo P Rooff Expressway
9
Continue on US 218
1.3 mi·1 min·West Washington Street
10
Continue on US 218
1.4 mi·1 min·Leo P Rooff Expressway
11
Take the exit onto US 218
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 218
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218
0.5 mi·58 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
13
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
32 mi·36 min·Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
15
Turn right onto IA 346
0.7 mi·1 min·Sample Street
16
Turn right onto Main Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 48 minute duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Leaving Cedar Rapids in the morning allows for a leisurely start, with ample time to reach Nashua well before evening. Since the longest uninterrupted stretch is 79.9 miles, plan for potential brief stops along the Avenue of the Saints if needed, though you won't require extensive breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel as you transition from highway to local roads, and ensure your tank is adequately filled before heading out, as fuel stops might be less frequent on the latter part of the drive.
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 46.3 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.9 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 20 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.3 miles or 52m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nashua, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cedar Rapids, IA
This is one driving day of about 92.6 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 79.9 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 59.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Crystal Drive Northeast
Continue onto Crystal Drive Northeast
Navigation decision point
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|32nd Street Northeast
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
3
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
49.9 mi into trip|~56m in|I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
6
59.4 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|US 218
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218 toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.48 one way
$28.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.90
$31.79
premium
$4.89
$17.82
$35.64
diesel
$5.61
$20.44
$40.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.8
0
$9.72
$4.44
Efficient EV
23.2
0
$8.10
$3.70
EV Truck/SUV
37
0
$12.96
$5.93
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Nashua, IA
Night
in Nashua on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
46 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
21 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
1h 48m 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 route presents a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, with only 9% of the journey on highways. While you'll briefly use I 380 and the Leo P Rooff Expressway, much of the 92.6 miles will be on local roads, including a significant 79.9-mile stretch on the Avenue of the Saints. Be prepared for more frequent adjustments in direction rather than long, uninterrupted cruising. The character shifts from quicker highway travel to a more engaging, road-level experience as you progress.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.9 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Crystal Drive Northeast.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.6 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 92.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (9%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.9 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (Crystal Drive Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (32nd Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Nashua, IA before heading back.
