This 115.9-mile journey from Gilbert to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a manageable 1 hour and 57 minutes of driving time, making it an ideal one-day trip. Expect a fuel cost of approximately $18 for this drive. The route primarily utilizes local roads, with no highway driving involved, giving it a more connected, in-the-moment feel. Since it's a relatively short distance and entirely within the Midwest, it's perfect for a spontaneous outing or a relaxed travel day. You won't need to worry about overnight stays with this efficient route.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.9 miles from Gilbert, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 30
92.6 mi
1h 47m
IA 100
8.3 mi
9m
US 69
2.8 mi
4m
West Riverside Road
2.2 mi
3m
North Dayton Avenue
2 mi
3m
I 35
1.6 mi
1m
32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
170th Street
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 30
— 92.6 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gilbert, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on CR E23
94 ft·2 sec·170th Street
2
Continue on CR E23
0.5 mi·1 min·Mathews Drive
3
Enter roundabout onto CR E23
102 ft·2 sec·Mathews Drive
4
Continue on CR E23
526 ft·14 sec·Mathews Drive
5
Continue on CR E23
0.9 mi·2 min·170th Street
6
Turn right onto US 69
2.8 mi·4 min·US 69
7
Turn left onto West Riverside Road
2.2 mi·3 min·West Riverside Road
8
At end of road, turn right onto North Dayton Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·North Dayton Avenue
9
Turn left onto I 35 Business
0.5 mi·57 sec·East 13th Street
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
11
Merge onto I 35
1.6 mi·1 min·I 35
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·42 sec
Toward US 30 East: Nevada
13
Merge onto US 30
93 mi·1 hr 47 min·US 30
14
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
15
Continue on IA 100
8.3 mi·9 min·IA 100
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
19
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
0.5 mi·38 sec·Avenue of the Saints
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
21
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
22
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
23
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
24
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
25
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
26
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 57-minute drive covering 115.9 miles, you have plenty of flexibility. Leaving anytime makes sense, but consider an early start to maximize your day in Cedar Rapids. Since there are no specified stops, you can create your own breaks as needed along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $18, and plan a quick top-off if you're starting with less than a full tank. A practical tip for this turn-heavy route: pay close attention to your GPS, as frequent turns on local roads can sometimes be less clearly marked than major highways.
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 57.9 miles from Gilbert, IA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.6 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 25 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.9 miles or 1h 12m 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 55m
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 Gilbert, 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 Gilbert, IA
This is one driving day of about 115.9 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Gilbert, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 30 for about 92.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 113.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|CR E23 / Mathews Drive
Enter roundabout onto CR E23 / Mathews Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
6.5 mi into trip|~11m in|North Dayton Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto North Dayton Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
103.8 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Take the exit toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
7
113.3 mi into trip|~2h 17m 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
113.4 mi into trip|~2h 17m 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
$18.12 one way
$36.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.89
$39.79
premium
$4.89
$22.30
$44.61
diesel
$5.61
$25.59
$51.18
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: 40.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.8
0
$12.17
$5.56
Efficient EV
29
0
$10.14
$4.64
EV Truck/SUV
46.4
0
$16.23
$7.42
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Gilbert, IA
Late night
in Gilbert on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 22m 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?
Get ready for a turn-heavy local drive on this route. The roads you'll be on, including Mathews Drive, 170th Street, and West Riverside Road, mean you'll be constantly adjusting your path rather than settling into a long, straight stretch. With a 0% highway share, this experience is all about navigating community roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests frequent changes in direction. This drive will keep you engaged with your surroundings as you traverse Iowa's countryside.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.6 mi on US 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 30 and IA 100. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near CR E23 / Mathews Drive.
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 115.9 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 0.5 miles (CR E23 / Mathews Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.5 miles (North Dayton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 103.8 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 Gilbert, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marion along the way.
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 22m. Total distance: 115.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 92.6 miles on US 30. 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 0.5 miles (CR E23 / Mathews Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.5 miles (North Dayton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 103.8 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.
