Spanning 224.3 miles across the heart of Iowa, this cross-state journey takes roughly 4 hours and 21 minutes to complete. You will navigate a mix of major arteries, including I-80, the historic Lincoln Highway, and Northeast Hubbell Road. Given the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach Cedar Rapids without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $34 on fuel for the trek. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this path offers a straightforward connection between two Midwestern hubs.
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
112.1 miles from Harlan, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
101 mi
1h 50m
Lincoln Highway
37 mi
42m
Northeast Hubbell Road
33.5 mi
39m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
US 59
8.5 mi
11m
IA 100
8.3 mi
9m
12th Street
1.5 mi
2m
32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 101 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harlan, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on Willow Street
55 ft·4 sec·Willow Street
2
Turn right onto 12th Street
1.5 mi·2 min·12th Street
3
Continue on Linden Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Linden Road
4
Continue on 800th Street
0.4 mi·46 sec·800th Street
5
Turn left onto US 59
8.5 mi·11 min·US 59
6
Continue on US 59
0.1 mi·19 sec·Avoca Lane
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
8
Merge onto I 80
82 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 80
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi·5 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
11
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.
12
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
13
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
15
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
16
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
17
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
18
Continue on IA 100
8.3 mi·9 min·IA 100
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
22
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
0.5 mi·38 sec·Avenue of the Saints
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
24
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
25
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
26
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
27
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
28
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
29
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour and 21-minute drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the route is manageable in a single day, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best, though mid-morning starts often help avoid peak congestion near hubs. Keep your fuel budget of $34 in mind as you plan your stops along the way. Because you will be navigating a mix of interstate and local roads, stay alert for transitions between the high-speed I-80 corridor and the slower, local stretches of the Lincoln Highway.
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 112.1 miles from Harlan, IA, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101 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 49 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.1 miles or 2h 7m 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 32m
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 Harlan, 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 Harlan, IA
This is one driving day of about 224.3 miles and 4h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Harlan, 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 80 for about 101 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 93.9 and 221.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
93.9 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
108.3 mi into trip|~2h 2m 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
112.8 mi into trip|~2h 8m 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
221.7 mi into trip|~4h 16m 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
221.8 mi into trip|~4h 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
$35.07 one way
$70.13 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$38.50
$77.00
premium
$4.89
$43.16
$86.33
diesel
$5.61
$49.52
$99.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.3
0
$23.55
$10.77
Efficient EV
56.1
0
$19.63
$8.97
EV Truck/SUV
89.7
1
$31.40
$14.36
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Harlan, IA
Night
in Harlan on Saturday
Local time
9:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Night
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
9:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Clear
SE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 21m 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 offers a mixed driving profile, transitioning between high-speed interstate travel and local roadway navigation. With about 53% of the journey spent on highways, you will encounter a variety of road conditions throughout the 224.3-mile distance. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-80, where you will cover 101 miles before transitioning to other segments. The route shifts in personality as you move from the open interstate to the more localized sections of the Lincoln Highway and Northeast Hubbell Road, keeping the drive engaging rather than monotonous.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101 mi on I 80.
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 93.9 miles in near I 80.
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 18 significant decision points across 224.3 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 93.9 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 112.8 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 Harlan, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Bondurant and Marion.
Minneapolis
93.9 mi in|~1h 46m|via I 80
Kansas City
93.9 mi in|~1h 46m|via I 80
Bondurant
112.8 mi in|~2h 8m|via US 65
Marion
212.2 mi in|~4h 4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 21m. Total distance: 224.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101 miles on I 80. 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 93.9 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 112.8 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 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Cedar Rapids, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
