Traveling from Iowa Falls to Cedar Rapids is a straightforward 106.1-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 4 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $16 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly way to cross the Iowa heartland. The drive takes you entirely through the Midwest, offering a consistent regional feel as you transition between these two communities. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick getaway, the trip is efficient and simple to navigate.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.1 miles from Iowa Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
55.9 mi
1h 4m
Avenue of the Saints
42.3 mi
45m
Oak Street
5.1 mi
8m
32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
East Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Tiperary Drive Northeast
<0.1 mi
<1m
Crystal Drive Northeast
<0.1 mi
<1m
Commercial Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 55.9 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa Falls, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on Commercial Street
331 ft·11 sec·Commercial Street
2
Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·East Rocksylvania Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 65
5.1 mi·8 min·Oak Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward US 20 East
5
Merge onto US 20
56 mi·1 hr 4 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
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to depart whenever it best suits your plans. Because there are no mandatory stops listed, you can easily complete the entire 2 hours and 4 minutes in one go, though taking a quick break after that 55.9-mile stretch on US 20 can help keep you refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Iowa Falls to ensure you are covered for the estimated $16 expense. With no complex navigation required, you can focus on the road and enjoy the transition across the state. Remember that since this is a direct route, you can easily make it a round trip in a single day if your itinerary requires it.
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 53.1 miles from Iowa Falls, IA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.9 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 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.1 miles or 1h 4m 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 42m
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 Iowa Falls, 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 Iowa Falls, IA
This is one driving day of about 106.1 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Iowa Falls, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 55.9 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 104.7 — 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|East Rocksylvania Avenue
Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|US 65 / Oak Street
Turn left onto US 65 / Oak Street
Navigation decision point
5
5.7 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
6
62.1 mi into trip|~1h 15m 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
104.7 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.59 one way
$33.18 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.21
$36.42
premium
$4.89
$20.42
$40.84
diesel
$5.61
$23.43
$46.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.8
0
$11.14
$5.09
Efficient EV
26.5
0
$9.28
$4.24
EV Truck/SUV
42.4
0
$14.85
$6.79
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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 16, 2026
Origin
Iowa Falls, IA
Night
in Iowa Falls on Saturday
Local time
9:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Night
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
9:50 PM
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
1 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 4m 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?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between various road types, including US 20, the Avenue of the Saints, and Oak Street. About 53% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a nice balance between steady cruising and local navigation. You will tackle your longest uninterrupted stretch early on, covering 55.9 miles along US 20. The personality of the road shifts from open highway stretches to more localized driving, ensuring you stay alert behind the wheel. It is neither a tedious interstate grind nor a overly technical backroad, but rather a balanced trek that moves you steadily toward your destination.
53% 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: 55.9 mi on US 20.
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 around 0.1 miles in near East Rocksylvania Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Rocksylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 65 / Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles: Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,106 ft782 ft
Total Climb
140 ft
Total Descent
438 ft
Highest Point
1,106 ft
Elevation Range
324 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 106.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 55.9 miles on US 20. 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: at 0.1 miles (East Rocksylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 65 / Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cedar Rapids, IA before heading back.
