Traveling from Colfax to Cedar Rapids covers 108.8 miles across the Iowa landscape. Expect the journey to take approximately 1 hour and 44 minutes, making this a manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You should budget about $16 for fuel to complete the transit between these two Midwestern locales. Because there are no formal stops scheduled, you can easily complete the drive in a single stretch. It is a straightforward route that connects smaller regional hubs, offering a reliable path for travelers looking to navigate the state efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.4 miles from Colfax, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
83 mi
1h 28m
Avenue of the Saints
21.6 mi
24m
32nd Street Northeast
0.8 mi
1m
State Highway 117
0.7 mi
<1m
29th Street Northeast
0.3 mi
<1m
Oakland Road Northeast
0.3 mi
<1m
North Walnut Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Tiperary Drive Northeast
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 83 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colfax, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on East Howard Street
55 ft·4 sec·East Howard Street
2
Turn right onto IA 117
0.1 mi·12 sec·North Walnut Street
3
Continue on IA 117
0.7 mi·58 sec·State Highway 117
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
5
Merge onto I 80; US 6
83 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 80; US 6
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
8
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
22 mi·24 min·Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward Glass Road, 32nd Street, Coldstream, 29th Street
10
Keep slight right at fork
319 ft·8 sec
11
Turn straight onto 29th Street Northeast
0.3 mi·36 sec·29th Street Northeast
12
Turn left onto Oakland Road Northeast
0.3 mi·29 sec·Oakland Road Northeast
13
Turn right onto 32nd Street Northeast
0.8 mi·1 min·32nd Street Northeast
14
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
15
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
16
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
17
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal schedule. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route requires your full attention, so consider departing during daylight hours to ensure better visibility for road signs and intersections. While the $16 fuel estimate is modest, it is wise to ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Colfax since you will be relying on local roads rather than major service-heavy interstates. Use the lack of planned stops to your advantage by mapping out your own breaks if you prefer a more leisurely pace over the 108.8-mile distance.
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 54.4 miles from Colfax, IA, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83 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 24 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.4 miles or 59m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Rapids, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Colfax, 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 Colfax, IA
This is one driving day of about 108.9 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Colfax, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 83 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 84.2 and 107.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
84.2 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
6
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar...
5
107.1 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward Glass Road, 32nd Street, Coldstream, 29th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
107.7 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|Oakland Road Northeast
Turn left onto Oakland Road Northeast
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.03 one way
$34.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.69
$37.39
premium
$4.89
$20.96
$41.91
diesel
$5.61
$24.04
$48.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.7
0
$11.43
$5.23
Efficient EV
27.2
0
$9.53
$4.36
EV Truck/SUV
43.6
0
$15.25
$6.97
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Colfax, IA
Night
in Colfax on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Night
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Belle Plaine, IA
54 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
23 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
2h 2m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy, local experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will primarily navigate via North Walnut Street, Highway 117, and the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, as the route involves zero percent highway driving. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on North Walnut Street is 0 miles, you will need to stay alert for frequent turns and transitions between local roads. This profile creates a hands-on driving atmosphere that keeps you engaged with the rural Iowa environment throughout the entire trip.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Avenue of the Saints. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 84.2 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 108.9 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 84.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Colfax, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo along the way.
Waterloo
84.7 mi in|~1h 32m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 108.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Cedar Rapids, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 84.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.1 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 Cedar Rapids, IA before heading back.
