Connecting Creston to Cedar Rapids requires a 200.5-mile journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 2 minutes. Since this is a straightforward trek across the Iowa Midwest, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $30 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating this route involves a blend of major arteries like I-35 and the Lincoln Highway, as well as Northeast Hubbell Road. It is a practical drive that works well for a quick trip, offering a consistent pace that keeps your travel plans uncomplicated.
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
100.3 miles from Creston, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
53.1 mi
58m
Lincoln Highway
37 mi
42m
Northeast Hubbell Road
33.5 mi
39m
West Taylor Street
30.5 mi
42m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
IA 100
8.3 mi
9m
I 80
4.5 mi
5m
32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 53.1 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Creston, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on East Montgomery Street
0.1 mi·39 sec·East Montgomery Street
2
Turn left onto North Elm Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Elm Street
3
Turn left onto US 34
30 mi·42 min·West Taylor Street
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I-35 north: Des Moines
5
Merge onto I 35
53 mi·58 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi·5 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi·1 min·US 65
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
9
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
11
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
12
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
13
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
14
Continue on IA 100
8.3 mi·9 min·IA 100
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
18
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
0.5 mi·38 sec·Avenue of the Saints
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
20
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
21
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
22
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
23
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
24
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
25
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Because this is a manageable 4-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You should plan for at least one stop along the way to break up the 200.5-mile trek and keep your focus sharp. Since the longest stretch is 53.1 miles on I-35, aim to time your fuel refills before or after that specific segment to avoid unnecessary interruptions. Keeping your $30 fuel budget in mind, it is wise to monitor your consumption as you transition between the highway and local roads. Use the one planned stop as a chance to stretch your legs before tackling the final leg of your journey into Cedar Rapids.
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 100.3 miles from Creston, IA, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.1 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 44 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.3 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 18m
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 Creston, 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 Creston, IA
This is one driving day of about 200.5 miles and 4h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Creston, 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 I 35 for about 53.1 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 0.8 and 198.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|US 34 / West Taylor Street
Turn left onto US 34 / West Taylor Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
84.6 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
89.1 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
7
197.9 mi into trip|~3h 57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
7
198.1 mi into trip|~3h 57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.35 one way
$62.69 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.42
$68.83
premium
$4.89
$38.58
$77.17
diesel
$5.61
$44.27
$88.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.2
0
$21.05
$9.62
Efficient EV
50.1
0
$17.54
$8.02
EV Truck/SUV
80.2
1
$28.07
$12.83
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Creston, IA
Night
in Creston on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Night
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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
4h 2m 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 trip features a mixed-drive profile that balances fast-paced stretches with more local travel. Only about 33% of your time will be spent on the highway, meaning you will experience a variety of road types as you transition between sections. Your longest uninterrupted segment occurs on I-35, spanning 53.1 miles of the trip. The character of the road changes noticeably as you shift from interstate travel to the more localized corridors of the Lincoln Highway and Northeast Hubbell Road. Be prepared for a shift in intensity as you move off the main interstate and onto these secondary roads.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.1 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near US 34 / West Taylor Street.
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 200.5 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 0.8 miles (US 34 / West Taylor Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 84.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Between Creston, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Bondurant and Marion.
Bondurant
89.1 mi in|~1h 48m|via US 65
Marion
188.4 mi in|~3h 45m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 2m. Total distance: 200.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.1 miles on I 35. 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.
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. 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 0.8 miles (US 34 / West Taylor Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 84.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Cedar Rapids, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
