Spanning 303.6 miles across the Iowa landscape, this trip from Hawarden to Cedar Rapids typically takes about 4 hours and 49 minutes of driving time. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, it is best suited for a single, focused day of travel. You should budget approximately $46 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating via 10th Street, 450th Street, and Dipper Avenue, you will spend your entire journey within the Midwest region. Given the manageable duration, you can complete the trip in one day without needing an overnight stay, though the nature of the roads requires your full attention.
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
150.9 miles from Hawarden, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
165.9 mi
3h 11m
Avenue of the Saints
42.3 mi
45m
Highway 20
27.1 mi
32m
County Road K49
13 mi
17m
County Road C38
10.9 mi
15m
County Road K22
10 mi
13m
United States Highway 20
8.3 mi
10m
Dipper Avenue
6.1 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 165.9 mi, about 3h 11m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,006 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~107 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hawarden, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on Central Avenue
344 ft·17 sec·Central Avenue
2
Turn right onto IA 10
0.8 mi·1 min·10th Street
3
Continue on IA 10
5.0 mi·6 min·450th Street
4
Turn right onto CR K22
6.1 mi·8 min·Dipper Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on County Road K22
7.0 mi·9 min·County Road K22
6
Continue on IA 3; CR K22
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 3
7
Continue on County Road K22
3.0 mi·4 min·County Road K22
8
Turn left onto CR C38
11 mi·15 min·County Road C38
9
Turn right onto CR K49
13 mi·17 min·County Road K49
10
Continue on CR K49
1.0 mi·1 min·Fayette Avenue
11
Turn left onto CR D12
3.5 mi·4 min·110th Street
12
Turn right onto K64
3.0 mi·4 min·Grundy Avenue
13
Continue on K64
0.7 mi·58 sec·140th Street
14
Turn right onto Haskell Avenue
0.3 mi·31 sec·Haskell Avenue
15
Turn right onto IA 140
0.2 mi·13 sec·State Highway 140
16
Continue on IA 140
1.0 mi·2 min·North 1st Street
17
Turn left onto US 20
27 mi·32 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi·10 min·United States Highway 20
19
Continue on US 20
166 mi·3 hr 11 min·220th Street
20
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
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
22
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
23
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
24
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
25
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
26
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
27
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4 hour and 49 minute journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the local driving segments. Since the route is entirely comprised of local roads, leaving early in the morning allows you to navigate the turns during daylight hours when visibility is best. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads may offer fewer service options than major corridors, and ensure your $46 fuel budget is ready before you depart. Flexibility is a major advantage here, so feel free to adjust your pace as needed to stay comfortable. Given the turn-heavy nature of the drive, double-check your GPS navigation settings before leaving Hawarden to ensure you stay on the correct path.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 150.9 miles from Hawarden, IA, or about 3h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.9 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 66 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.9 miles or 3h 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 5h 1m
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 Hawarden, 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 Hawarden, IA
This is one driving day of about 301.8 miles and 6h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Hawarden, 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 220th Street for about 165.9 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 300.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 10 / 10th Street
Turn right onto IA 10 / 10th Street
Navigation decision point
6
5.8 mi into trip|~8m in|CR K22 / Dipper Avenue
Turn right onto CR K22 / Dipper Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
22.9 mi into trip|~32m in|CR C38 / County Road C38
Turn left onto CR C38 / County Road C38
Navigation decision point
6
257.8 mi into trip|~5h 13m 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
300.4 mi into trip|~5h 59m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.18 one way
$100.35 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg106 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$54.66
$109.31
premium
$5.18
$61.58
$123.17
diesel
$5.35
$63.57
$127.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.5
1
$31.69
$14.49
Efficient EV
75.5
0
$26.41
$12.07
EV Truck/SUV
120.7
1
$42.25
$19.32
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Hawarden, IA
Afternoon
in Hawarden on Wednesday
Local time
2:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Afternoon
in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday
Local time
2:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Cloudy
E 5 mph14% 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
2 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
6h 3m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a hands-on experience behind the wheel, as this route features zero highway miles and relies entirely on local roads. The profile is distinctly turn-heavy, meaning you will need to stay alert while navigating the series of turns required to reach Cedar Rapids. Unlike a monotonous interstate cruise, this path demands active steering and frequent adjustments as you transition between 10th Street, 450th Street, and Dipper Avenue. Because you are avoiding major highways, the pace remains steady but requires more cognitive effort than a standard freeway drive. It is a practical, direct way to traverse the state if you prefer local routes over high-speed travel.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 165.9 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IA 10 / 10th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 3m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 14 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IA 10 / 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles (CR K22 / Dipper Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.9 miles (CR C38 / County Road C38): Navigation decision point.
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.
Top landmarks
•Mother Mosque of America — historic mosque in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
•Douglas and Charlotte Grant House — historic house in Iowa, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 3m. Total distance: 301.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 165.9 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IA 10 / 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles (CR K22 / Dipper Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.9 miles (CR C38 / County Road C38): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cedar Rapids, IA before the return drive.
