Cedar Rapids to Sioux City is 263 miles and takes about 5 hours 9 minutes via Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a drive that relies mostly on surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate experience. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of over 200 miles, it's a straightforward route suitable for a single day of travel.
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
131.6 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
208.6 mi
3h 57m
Highway 20
42.9 mi
53m
160th Street
6.4 mi
7m
United States Highway 20
1.9 mi
2m
32nd Street Northeast
1.2 mi
2m
6th Street
0.9 mi
2m
South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi
1m
Court Street
0.2 mi
<1m
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 City, 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
43 mi·53 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Fairmount Street
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on 6th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·6th Street
12
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
13
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
14
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, starting your drive from Cedar Rapids in the morning is ideal to ensure you arrive in Sioux City with plenty of daylight. The route has only one recommended stop, so plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer stretches on Avenue of the Saints, as services might be less frequent than on major interstates. The $40 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but always check current prices. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart a bit later if needed, but an early start will make for a more relaxed pace.
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 131.6 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 2h 30m 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 58 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.6 miles or 2h 30m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sioux City, 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 263.2 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 49.9 and 263.2 — 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
6
261.3 mi into trip|~5h 4m in|South Fairmount Street
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
262.8 mi into trip|~5h 8m in|Court Street
Turn right onto Court Street
Navigation decision point
5
263 mi into trip|~5h 8m in|9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
263.2 mi into trip|~5h 9m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.87 one way
$77.74 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$42.91
$85.82
premium
$4.72
$48.87
$97.74
diesel
$4.80
$49.70
$99.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79
0
$27.64
$12.63
Efficient EV
65.8
0
$23.03
$10.53
EV Truck/SUV
105.3
1
$36.85
$16.84
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Sunday
Local time
1:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Late night
in Sioux City on Sunday
Local time
1:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Clear
SSE 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
62°F
Hampton, IA
132 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
1 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 9m 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?
This drive is primarily on surface roads, with highways making up only 17% of the total distance. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 208.6 miles on Avenue of the Saints before transitioning to other roadways. The bulk of your travel will be on surface streets, so anticipate more local traffic and intersections compared to interstate cruising. Expect a more grounded driving experience as you navigate through communities.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 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 9m 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 49.9 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 261.3 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 262.8 miles (Court 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
Sioux City is on the western edge of the state of Iowa. It is on the Missouri River and many parts of Sioux City are among the unique Loess Hills formations.
Top landmarks
•Sergeant Floyd — museum boat in Sioux City, Iowa, United States
•Woodbury County Courthouse — county courthouse in Sioux City, United States of America
•St. Boniface Catholic Church — church building in Sioux City, United States of America
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 261.3 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 262.8 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sioux City, IA before the return drive.
