Fort Madison to Cedar Rapids is 113.8 miles and takes about 2h 17m via Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest region from start to finish. Expect a route with frequent turns, characteristic of a more local, engaging journey rather than a direct interstate cruise. Given its relatively short distance and manageable duration, this trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time for exploration upon arrival in Cedar Rapids.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.9 miles from Fort Madison, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
98.4 mi
1h 53m
IA 2
8.3 mi
11m
Avenue O
2.1 mi
3m
Avenue L
1.3 mi
2m
Avenue H
1 mi
1m
32nd Street Northeast
0.8 mi
1m
Old Highway 61
0.3 mi
<1m
29th Street Northeast
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 98.4 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Madison, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on this road
61 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Avenue I
139 ft·11 sec·Avenue I
3
Turn left onto US 61 Business
1.0 mi·1 min·Avenue H
4
Turn left onto US 61 Business
0.2 mi·21 sec·20th Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·Avenue L
6
Continue on US 61 Business
0.3 mi·27 sec·Old Highway 61
7
Continue on US 61 Business
2.1 mi·3 min·Avenue O
8
Turn straight onto IA 2
8.3 mi·11 min·IA 2
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
10
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
25 mi·28 min·Avenue of the Saints
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 218; IA 27
74 mi·1 hr 24 min·Avenue of the Saints
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward Glass Road, 32nd Street, Coldstream, 29th Street
13
Keep slight right at fork
319 ft·8 sec
14
Turn straight onto 29th Street Northeast
0.3 mi·36 sec·29th Street Northeast
15
Turn left onto Oakland Road Northeast
0.3 mi·29 sec·Oakland Road Northeast
16
Turn right onto 32nd Street Northeast
0.8 mi·1 min·32nd Street Northeast
17
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
18
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
19
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
20
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 17m estimated drive time, it's advisable to depart in the morning to maximize your day in Cedar Rapids. The $18 fuel cost suggests a budget-friendly trip, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Since this is a single-day, turn-heavy drive, keep your navigation active and be mindful of the frequent changes in direction. The longest stretch is nearly 100 miles on Avenue of the Saints, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you embark on that longer segment.
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 56.9 miles from Fort Madison, IA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.4 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 25 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.9 miles or 1h 10m 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 52m
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 Fort Madison, 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 Fort Madison, IA
This is one driving day of about 113.8 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Fort Madison, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 98.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 112.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Avenue I
Turn right onto Avenue I
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip|~1m in|US 61 Business / 20th Street
Turn left onto US 61 Business / 20th Street
Navigation decision point
5
112.1 mi into trip|~2h 13m 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
112.7 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|Oakland Road Northeast
Turn left onto Oakland Road Northeast
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.79 one way
$35.58 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.53
$39.07
premium
$4.89
$21.90
$43.80
diesel
$5.61
$25.13
$50.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.1
0
$11.95
$5.46
Efficient EV
28.5
0
$9.96
$4.55
EV Truck/SUV
45.5
0
$15.93
$7.28
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Fort Madison, IA
Late night
in Fort Madison on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 17 at 11:29PM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
42°F
Washington, IA
57 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
29 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 17m 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 characterized by frequent turns, offering a more engaging driving experience than a straightforward interstate. With only an 8% highway share, you'll be navigating primarily local roads, including segments of IA 2 and Avenue O, in addition to the Avenue of the Saints. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 98.4 miles along the Avenue of the Saints, providing a solid period of consistent travel before the road begins to change. This isn't a monotonous trek; be prepared for a more dynamic drive that requires attention to navigation.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.4 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Avenue I.
Driving Effort5/10
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 113.8 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (Avenue I): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 61 Business / 20th Street): Navigation decision point; at 112.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 113.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (8%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Avenue I): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 61 Business / 20th Street): Navigation decision point; at 112.1 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.
