Jewell, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is 129.3 miles and takes about 2h 29m via US 20 and I-35, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically within Iowa, offering a straightforward journey. It's primarily a highway-focused drive, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip without needing an overnight stay. With a relatively short duration and a manageable fuel cost, this route is a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
64.6 miles from Jewell, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
71.7 mi
1h 22m
Avenue of the Saints
42.3 mi
45m
I 35
8.9 mi
9m
330th Street
2.3 mi
3m
Edwards Street
1.3 mi
1m
32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
Highway 175
0.1 mi
<1m
Tiperary Drive Northeast
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 71.7 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jewell, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on Edwards Street
1.1 mi·1 min·Edwards Street
2
Continue on IA 175
1.7 mi·2 min·330th Street
3
Continue on IA 175
0.2 mi·22 sec·Edwards Street
4
Continue on IA 175
0.1 mi·12 sec·Highway 175
5
Continue on IA 175
0.5 mi·54 sec·330th Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
7
Merge onto I 35
8.9 mi·9 min·I 35
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
9
Merge onto US 20
72 mi·1 hr 22 min·US 20
10
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
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
12
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
13
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
14
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
15
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
16
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
17
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 29m duration, this is an ideal one-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Cedar Rapids with time to spare. Plan for one fuel stop if needed, as the estimated cost is around $20, but keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the 71.7-mile stretch on US 20. There are no specific stops noted, so consider this a direct transit, and perhaps pack snacks and drinks to maximize your time upon arrival.
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 64.6 miles from Jewell, IA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.7 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.6 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 2m
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 Jewell, 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 Jewell, IA
This is one driving day of about 129.3 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Jewell, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 71.7 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 3.7 and 127.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.7 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Navigation decision point
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
3
4.1 mi into trip|~6m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
13 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East: Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
6
85.3 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
127.8 mi into trip|~2h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.21 one way
$40.43 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.19
$44.39
premium
$4.89
$24.88
$49.77
diesel
$5.61
$28.55
$57.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.8
0
$13.58
$6.21
Efficient EV
32.3
0
$11.31
$5.17
EV Truck/SUV
51.7
0
$18.10
$8.28
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Jewell, IA
Late night
in Jewell on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 15 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
38 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 29m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 is a highway-focused drive, with 62% of the route utilizing major highways like US 20 and I-35. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 71.7 miles on US 20, which means extended periods of consistent driving. While the majority of the journey is on faster roads, the overall character is likely to be practical rather than overtly scenic. Expect a steady pace for most of the trip, allowing you to cover the 129.3 miles in under 2.5 hours.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.7 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Avenue of the Saints. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 129.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 13 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 29m. Total distance: 129.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.7 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 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 13 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cedar Rapids, IA before heading back.
