Kingsley, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is 247 miles and takes about 4h 48m via 220th Street and Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, covering a good portion of the Midwest's rolling terrain. It's primarily a surface road drive, offering a more relaxed pace compared to interstate travel. Given the duration and the nature of the roads, it's easily a single-day trip, perfect for those who prefer to cover ground without feeling rushed. You'll experience the quiet charm of rural Iowa for most of this drive.
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
123.5 miles from Kingsley, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m 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
19 mi
22m
United States Highway 20
8.3 mi
10m
Lee Avenue
4.5 mi
6m
110th Street
2 mi
2m
County Road L14
1.8 mi
2m
32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
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 Kingsley, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on West 2nd Street
61 ft·6 sec·West 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Main Street
473 ft·27 sec·Main Street
3
Turn left onto IA 140
0.5 mi·1 min·East 1st Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto County Road L14
1.8 mi·2 min·County Road L14
5
Continue on L14
0.9 mi·1 min·Knox Avenue
6
Turn left onto CR D12
2.0 mi·2 min·110th Street
7
Turn right onto L21
4.5 mi·6 min·Lee Avenue
8
Turn left onto US 20
19 mi·22 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi·10 min·United States Highway 20
10
Continue on US 20
166 mi·3 hr 11 min·220th Street
11
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
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
13
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
14
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
15
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
16
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
17
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
18
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Plan to depart Kingsley, IA in the morning to take full advantage of the daylight for this single-day drive. With a total duration of under 5 hours, you'll have plenty of flexibility for brief stops. The longest continuous stretch is over 165 miles, so consider a quick break before or after that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services might be more spaced out on the surface road portions. The estimated fuel cost is around $39, but it's always wise to have a buffer.
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 123.5 miles from Kingsley, IA, or about 2h 27m 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 54 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.5 miles or 2h 27m 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 58m
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 Kingsley, 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 Kingsley, IA
This is one driving day of about 247 miles and 4h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Kingsley, 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 245.6 — 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|Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|County Road L14
At end of road, turn right onto County Road L14
Navigation decision point
6
9.8 mi into trip|~14m in|US 20 / Highway 20
Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
203 mi into trip|~3h 58m 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
245.6 mi into trip|~4h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.48 one way
$72.95 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$40.27
$80.54
premium
$4.72
$45.86
$91.72
diesel
$4.80
$46.64
$93.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.1
0
$25.94
$11.86
Efficient EV
61.8
0
$21.61
$9.88
EV Truck/SUV
98.8
1
$34.58
$15.81
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Kingsley, IA
Late night
in Kingsley on Sunday
Local time
1:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
ENE 0 to 10 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Sunday
Local time
1:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
NW 5 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
4h 48m 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 route is mostly surface roads, with only about 11% on highways. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 165.9 miles on 220nd Street, which will likely feel like continuous rural cruising. The transition to the Avenue of the Saints marks a shift towards more highway driving. Expect to navigate through smaller towns and open farmland for the majority of the 4h 48m journey.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 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 early in the drive near Main 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 4h 48m drive. You will face about 11 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 (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (County Road L14): Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
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
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 10 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.
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: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (County Road L14): Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Cedar Rapids, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
