Grundy Center to Cedar Rapids is 80.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 33 minutes via Avenue of the Saints and US 20, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to the Midwest region. The route features a mix of driving conditions, making it a straightforward journey for a single day. You'll find it's a practical option for connecting these two Iowa communities without demanding extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.2 miles from Grundy Center, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
42.3 mi
45m
US 20
29.1 mi
33m
N Avenue
6.2 mi
8m
32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
4th Street
0.8 mi
1m
Tiperary Drive Northeast
<0.1 mi
<1m
Crystal Drive Northeast
<0.1 mi
<1m
G Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 42.3 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grundy Center, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on IA 14; IA 175
66 ft·6 sec·G Avenue
2
Turn left onto IA 14
0.8 mi·1 min·4th Street
3
Continue on IA 14
6.2 mi·8 min·N Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
5
Merge onto US 20
29 mi·33 min·US 20
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
42 mi·45 min·Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
8
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
9
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
10
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
11
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
12
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
13
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour 33 minutes, this trip is ideal for a flexible departure. Leaving Grundy Center in the morning allows ample time to reach Cedar Rapids without feeling rushed, and you can easily plan for a stop if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before departing, as the estimated cost is $13 for the 80.5-mile journey. The longest stretch without a major road change is over 42 miles, so ensure you have what you need before setting off on that 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 40.2 miles from Grundy Center, IA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.3 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.2 miles or 48m 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 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 Grundy Center, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Grundy Center, IA
This is one driving day of about 80.5 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Grundy Center, 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 42.3 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 79 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 14 / 4th Street
Turn left onto IA 14 / 4th Street
Navigation decision point
4
6.9 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East: Waterloo
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
3
7.4 mi into trip|~10m in|US 20
Merge onto US 20
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
36.5 mi into trip|~44m in|I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
79 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.59 one way
$25.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.82
$27.64
premium
$4.89
$15.49
$30.98
diesel
$5.61
$17.77
$35.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.2
0
$8.45
$3.86
Efficient EV
20.1
0
$7.04
$3.22
EV Truck/SUV
32.2
0
$11.27
$5.15
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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 15, 2026
Origin
Grundy Center, IA
Late night
in Grundy Center on Sunday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Sunday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Jesup, IA
40 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 33m 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?
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 36% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Avenue of the Saints, US 20, and N Avenue, providing some variety. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll navigate is 42.3 miles along the Avenue of the Saints. Expect a blend of faster highway driving and potentially some slower sections as you transition between these main roads.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.3 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 14 / 4th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 33m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 14 / 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 7.4 miles (US 20): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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.
The longest stretch is about 42.3 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 14 / 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 7.4 miles (US 20): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cedar Rapids, IA before heading back.
