Cedar Rapids to Sioux Center is 291.6 miles and takes about 5 hours 51 minutes via Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Iowa from east to west. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a straightforward path that prioritizes direct travel over extensive sightseeing. Most of the route involves surface roads, making it a more grounded experience than a pure interstate cruise. Consider this if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently within Iowa.
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
145.8 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
208.6 mi
3h 57m
Highway 20
19 mi
22m
State Highway 140
15.1 mi
20m
450th Street
7.7 mi
11m
County Road L14
7 mi
9m
160th Street
6.4 mi
7m
US 75
5.8 mi
9m
Lee Avenue
5.4 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 208.6 mi, about 3h 57m
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 Sioux Center, 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
160 mi·3 hr 4 min·Avenue of the Saints
7
Continue on US 20
6.4 mi·7 min·160th Street
8
Continue on US 20
1.9 mi·2 min·United States Highway 20
9
Continue on US 20
19 mi·22 min·Highway 20
10
Turn right onto L21
5.4 mi·7 min·Lee Avenue
11
Continue on Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi·2 min·Shamrock Avenue
12
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi·2 min·320th Street
13
Turn right onto IA 140
15 mi·20 min·State Highway 140
14
Continue on L14
7.0 mi·9 min·County Road L14
15
Continue on L14
5.0 mi·6 min·Kiwi Avenue
16
At end of road, turn left onto IA 10
1.8 mi·2 min·460th Street
17
Continue on IA 10
0.3 mi·24 sec·State Highway 10
18
Continue on IA 10
0.8 mi·1 min·Kennedy Avenue
19
Turn left onto IA 10
2.0 mi·2 min·450th Street
20
Enter roundabout onto 450th Street
81 ft·4 sec·450th Street
21
Continue on 450th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·450th Street
22
Continue on IA 10
0.7 mi·2 min·8th Street Southeast
23
Continue on IA 10
0.5 mi·57 sec·Highway 10 West
24
Continue on IA 10
5.0 mi·6 min·450th Street
25
Turn right onto US 75
5.8 mi·9 min·US 75
26
Arrive at destination
US 75
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day trip totaling just under 6 hours, leaving Cedar Rapids in the morning should allow ample time to reach Sioux Center before evening. While the longest stretch on the Avenue of the Saints is 208.6 miles, the overall profile leans towards surface roads, so plan for more frequent speed changes. With a fuel cost estimated at $46, keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the longer highway segment. The 15% highway share means you'll be navigating more local roads, so staying aware of your GPS is key.
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 145.8 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 208.6 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 64 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.8 miles or 2h 47m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sioux Center, 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 291.6 miles and 5h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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 208.6 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 49.9 and 273.9 — 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
237.4 mi into trip|~4h 33m in|L21 / Lee Avenue
Turn right onto L21 / Lee Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
244.8 mi into trip|~4h 44m in|C66 / 320th Street
Turn left onto C66 / 320th Street
Navigation decision point
4
246.8 mi into trip|~4h 47m in|IA 140 / State Highway 140
Turn right onto IA 140 / State Highway 140
Navigation decision point
5
273.9 mi into trip|~5h 24m in|IA 10 / 460th Street
At end of road, turn left onto IA 10 / 460th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.06 one way
$86.13 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$47.54
$95.08
premium
$4.72
$54.14
$108.28
diesel
$4.80
$55.06
$110.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.5
1
$30.62
$14.00
Efficient EV
72.9
0
$25.52
$11.66
EV Truck/SUV
116.6
1
$40.82
$18.66
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Sunday
Local time
1:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Clear
SW 5 to 10 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:27PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Sioux Center, IA
Late night
in Sioux Center on Sunday
Local time
1:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:27PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
62°F
Hampton, IA
146 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 51m 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?
You'll cover 291.6 miles, with only 15% of that on highways. The longest continuous highway stretch is 208.6 miles along the Avenue of the Saints. After this, expect a shift to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. This means you'll likely encounter more varied speed limits and potentially more local traffic as you get closer to Sioux Center.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 208.6 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 51m drive. You will face about 11 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 237.4 miles (L21 / Lee Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 244.8 miles (C66 / 320th Street): Navigation decision point.
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 208.6 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 10 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 237.4 miles (L21 / Lee Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 244.8 miles (C66 / 320th Street): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sioux Center, IA before the return drive.
