Cedar Rapids, IA to Van Meter, IA is 140.6 miles and takes about 2h 48m via Lincoln Highway, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Iowa on its way to Van Meter. Given its relatively short duration and minimal stops, it's a straightforward drive suitable for a single day. The bulk of the route sticks to surface roads, making it a relaxed way to travel between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
70.3 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
37.3 mi
43m
Marshalltown Boulevard
33.7 mi
39m
73rd Street
24.4 mi
28m
I 80
15.4 mi
17m
US 65
13 mi
15m
Collins Road Northeast
8.2 mi
9m
16th Avenue Southwest
2.4 mi
2m
32nd Street Northeast
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 37.3 mi, about 43m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,587 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~288 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 39 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 Van Meter, 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
0.5 mi·40 sec·Avenue of the Saints
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward IA 100
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·20 sec
Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 west: Waterloo
8
Turn left
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south, IA 100 west: Iowa City
9
Merge onto IA 100
8.2 mi·9 min·Collins Road Northeast
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
11
Merge onto US 30; US 218
2.4 mi·2 min·16th Avenue Southwest
12
Continue on US 30; US 218
24 mi·28 min·73rd Street
13
Continue on US 30
37 mi·43 min·Lincoln Highway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
15
Turn left onto IA 330
34 mi·39 min·Marshalltown Boulevard
16
Continue on US 65; IA 330
0.7 mi·58 sec·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
17
Take the exit onto US 65
13 mi·15 min·US 65
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 80; I 35
5.6 mi·6 min·I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
9.8 mi·11 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward CR R16: Van Meter, Dallas Center
21
Turn left onto CR R16
1.1 mi·1 min·R Avenue
22
Continue on CR R16
0.1 mi·16 sec·Mill Street
23
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
With a driving time under 3 hours, this is an easy same-day trip. Plan to leave Cedar Rapids in the morning to give yourself ample time. You'll only need one stop along the way, so flexibility is key – pick a spot that suits your needs. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $22. A good tip for this route is to familiarize yourself with the Lincoln Highway section, as it's your longest continuous stretch and will likely dictate the pace for a significant portion of your 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.3 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.3 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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.3 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Van Meter, 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 140.6 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 Lincoln Highway for about 37.3 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 129.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.4 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 west: Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 west: W...
5
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn left toward I-380 south, IA 27 south, IA 100 west: Iowa City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south, IA 100 west: I...
5
11.1 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshall...
7
110.6 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
7
129.1 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.38 one way
$46.75 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$25.46
$50.93
premium
$5.18
$28.69
$57.38
diesel
$5.35
$29.61
$59.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.2
0
$14.76
$6.75
Efficient EV
35.2
0
$12.30
$5.62
EV Truck/SUV
56.2
0
$19.68
$9.00
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Afternoon
in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday
Local time
4:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
NE 5 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Van Meter, IA
Afternoon
in Van Meter on Wednesday
Local time
4:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
NE 6 mph14% chanceLive forecast
88°F
Ferguson, IA
70 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
4 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
2h 48m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only 20% of the drive on highways. You'll spend most of your time cruising on roads like Lincoln Highway and Marshalltown Boulevard. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 37.3 miles on Lincoln Highway. Expect to notice more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you transition away from any highway segments.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.3 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 140.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,049 ft788 ft
Total Climb
623 ft
Total Descent
554 ft
Highest Point
1,049 ft
~80.3 mi in
Elevation Range
261 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cedar Rapids, IA and Van Meter, IA, road signs point toward Marshalltown and Des Moines.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 140.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.3 miles on Lincoln Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Van Meter, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Van Meter, IA before heading back.
