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Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Sanborn, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 28m

Distance

271.3 mi

437 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

17 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 15m ★
6 AM
5h 28m
8 AM
5h 55m
10 AM
5h 38m
12 PM
5h 35m
3 PM
5h 39m
5 PM
5h 54m
8 PM
5h 20m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Sanborn, IA, IA

Sanborn, IA

Viridiana Rivera

Trip Overview

The drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Sanborn, IA covers 271.3 miles and takes about 5h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, US 59, Silver Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 207.5 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.41 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

135.6 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Avenue of the Saints 207.5 mi 3h 56m
US 59 13.6 mi 18m
Silver Avenue 13.2 mi 18m
20th Avenue 9.2 mi 12m
Armstrong Avenue 6 mi 8m
470th Street 4.1 mi 5m
530th Street 3.1 mi 4m
State Highway 3 2.9 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 207.5 mi, about 3h 56m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Sanborn, 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

159 mi · 3 hr 3 min · Avenue of the Saints
7

Turn right onto CR M27

6.0 mi · 8 min · Armstrong Avenue
8

Continue on CR M27

9.2 mi · 12 min · 20th Avenue
9

Turn left onto IA 7

1.1 mi · 1 min · Highway 7
10

Continue on IA 7

2.1 mi · 2 min · State Highway 7
11

Continue on IA 7

1.4 mi · 2 min · 1st Street
12

Continue on IA 7

1.9 mi · 2 min · V Avenue
13

Turn left onto IA 3

0.2 mi · 22 sec · State Highway 3
14

Turn straight onto IA 3

3.1 mi · 4 min · 530th Street
15

Turn right onto IA 3

2.7 mi · 3 min · State Highway 3
16

Turn right onto US 59

14 mi · 18 min · US 59
17

Turn left onto US 59; IA 10

4.1 mi · 5 min · 470th Street
18

Continue on US 59; IA 10

7.2 mi · 9 min · Silver Avenue
Use the left lane.
19

Continue on US 59

1.6 mi · 2 min · South Rerick Avenue
20

Continue on US 59

6.0 mi · 8 min · Silver Avenue
21

Turn left onto US 18; US 59

1.4 mi · 1 min · 320th Street
22

Continue on US 18

0.2 mi · 28 sec · US-18
23

Turn left onto Franklin Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Franklin Street
24

Turn right onto East 2nd Street

330 ft · 14 sec · East 2nd Street
25

Arrive at destination

East 2nd Street

Trip Plan

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 135.6 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 207.5 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 60 miles or 1h 8m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 135.6 miles or 2h 35m 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 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sanborn, 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 271.3 miles and 5h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 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 207.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Iowa Falls, IA

136 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Waterloo, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ames, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 135.6 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 207.5 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

HuHot Mongolian Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193936000

Visit website

Red Lobster

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

1.5 mi

Persis Biryani Indian Grill

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

1.8 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Kismet Coffee & Bloom

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+13192003218

Visit website

Groundswell Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

2.8 mi

Veritas Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

2.5 mi

HuHot Mongolian Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193936000

Visit website

Red Lobster

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193950450

Visit website

Persis Biryani Indian Grill

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13198262000

Visit website

Rio Burritos

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9:15 pm

+13199815001

Visit website

Napoli's Italian Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30

Marion, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193772100

Visit website

Scott's Family Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+13195504517

Visit website

Cobble Hill

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour Expensive

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 4:30–9 pm

+13193663177

Visit website

Stack Wellness Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+13192005558

Visit website

Kismet Coffee & Bloom

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+13192003218

Visit website

Groundswell Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13192002791

Visit website

Veritas Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Closed

+13192083192

Visit website

Café Saint Pio

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+13192001000

Roasters Coffeehouse NewBo

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

Opus Concert Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13193668203

Visit website

Trading Grounds

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10

Marion, Iowa

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

Blink Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 116.3

Williams, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15155160821

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

EVgo Car Charging Station

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 116.3

Williams, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Shell Recharge Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 232.5

Cherokee, Iowa

+31880109500

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 19.4

Center Point, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

+18006360986

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.3 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 193.8

Early, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

Bistro at Blooms

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Marion, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–2:30 pm

+13194499996

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 49.9 and 271.2 — 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

4
209.1 mi into trip | ~4h in | CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue

Turn right onto CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
250.5 mi into trip | ~4h 57m in | US 59; IA 10 / 470th Street

Turn left onto US 59; IA 10 / 470th Street

Navigation decision point

5
270.9 mi into trip | ~5h 26m in | Franklin Street

Turn left onto Franklin Street

Navigation decision point

5
271.2 mi into trip | ~5h 28m in | East 2nd Street

Turn right onto East 2nd Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$42.41 one way

$84.83 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 95 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $46.57 $93.14
premium $4.89 $52.21 $104.42
diesel $5.61 $59.90 $119.80

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 94.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

17 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota

Fort Dodge, IA

EV Connect

9 DCFC

Hy-Vee Grocery Store - Tesla Supercharger

Cedar Rapids, IA

Tesla

8 DCFC

Hy-Vee Waterloo - Tesla Supercharger

Waterloo, IA

Tesla

8 DCFC

McGrath Auto

Hiawatha, IA

Blink Network

4 DCFC

McGrath Hyundai Hiawatha - DCFC

Hiawatha, IA

Blink Network

4 DCFC

Waterloo Hy-Vee

Waterloo, IA

CHARGELAB

4 DCFC

225 Commercial St

Waterloo, IA

CHARGELAB

4 DCFC

Bill Colwell Ford

Hudson, IA

FORD_CHARGE

4 DCFC

CHARGELAB: 6 Blink Network: 3 Tesla: 2 EV Connect: 2 ChargePoint Network: 1 FORD_CHARGE: 1 eVgo Network: 1 RED_E: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 81.4 1 $28.49 $13.02
Efficient EV 67.8 0 $23.74 $10.85
EV Truck/SUV 108.5 1 $37.98 $17.36

Gas CO2

95 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 19, 2026

Origin

Cedar Rapids, IA

Morning in Cedar Rapids on Sunday

Local time

7:51 AM

CDT

Current temp

33°F

Clear

W 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 2:13AM CDT until April 20 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 2:10AM CDT until April 20 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Sanborn, IA

Morning in Sanborn on Sunday

Local time

7:51 AM

CDT

Current temp

29°F

Chance Snow Showers

W 10 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 2:13AM CDT until April 20 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 2:10AM CDT until April 20 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

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

4 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 28m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

271.3 mi in 5h 28m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 207.5 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 Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 28m drive. You will face about 12 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 209.1 miles (CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 250.5 miles (US 59; IA 10 / 470th Street): Navigation decision point.

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 5h 28m. Total distance: 271.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (7%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 207.5 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 49.9 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 209.1 miles (CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 250.5 miles (US 59; IA 10 / 470th Street): Navigation decision point.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sanborn, IA before the return drive.

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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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