This 188.5-mile drive from Lake City, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is a manageable one-day adventure, taking approximately 3 hours and 41 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $29, it's an economical option for exploring more of the Midwest. The journey primarily follows US 20 and the Avenue of the Saints, offering a highway-focused experience. Given its reasonable length, this route is perfect for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll be traversing familiar Midwestern landscapes throughout your journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
94.3 miles from Lake City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
126.6 mi
2h 26m
Avenue of the Saints
42.3 mi
45m
Norridge Avenue
9 mi
12m
360th Street
3 mi
4m
Ogden Avenue
2.5 mi
3m
East Main Street
1.4 mi
2m
32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
West High Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 126.6 mi, about 2h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake City, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on North Center Street
45 ft·7 sec·North Center Street
2
Turn left onto IA 175
1.4 mi·2 min·East Main Street
3
Continue on IA 175
3.0 mi·4 min·360th Street
4
Turn left onto IA 4
9.0 mi·12 min·Norridge Avenue
5
Turn right onto CR D36
1.0 mi·1 min·West High Street
6
Turn left onto N57
1.0 mi·1 min·North 1st Street
7
Continue on N57
2.5 mi·3 min·Ogden Avenue
8
Turn right onto US 20
127 mi·2 hr 26 min·US 20
9
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
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
11
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
12
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
13
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
14
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
15
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
16
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 41-minute drive, starting earlier in the day is recommended to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 126.6 miles on US 20, and plan your refueling accordingly. The $29 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a little extra. Given the straightforward nature of the route, you have the advantage of being able to adjust your timing as needed.
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 94.3 miles from Lake City, IA, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.6 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 41 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.3 miles or 1h 54m 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 3m
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 Lake City, 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 Lake City, IA
This is one driving day of about 188.5 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Lake City, 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 US 20 for about 126.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 187.1 — 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|IA 175 / East Main Street
Turn left onto IA 175 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
4.4 mi into trip|~6m in|IA 4 / Norridge Avenue
Turn left onto IA 4 / Norridge Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
14.4 mi into trip|~20m in|N57 / North 1st Street
Turn left onto N57 / North 1st Street
Navigation decision point
6
144.5 mi into trip|~2h 52m 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
187.1 mi into trip|~3h 38m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.47 one way
$58.94 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.36
$64.71
premium
$4.89
$36.28
$72.55
diesel
$5.61
$41.62
$83.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.6
0
$19.79
$9.05
Efficient EV
47.1
0
$16.49
$7.54
EV Truck/SUV
75.4
0
$26.39
$12.06
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 15, 2026
Origin
Lake City, IA
Late night
in Lake City on Sunday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Sunday
Local time
5:01 AM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 41m 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 highway-focused drive for about 67% of this route. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on main roads like US 20 and the Avenue of the Saints. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 126.6 miles, so be prepared for extended periods on these primary routes. While largely a highway experience, the road will offer a consistent pace, allowing for efficient travel across Iowa. This drive is designed for steady progress rather than winding scenic detours.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 126.6 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Avenue of the Saints. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 175 / East 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 3h 41m drive. You will face about 8 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 (IA 175 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (IA 4 / Norridge Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 14.4 miles (N57 / North 1st Street): 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.
The longest stretch is about 126.6 miles on US 20. 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.
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 (IA 175 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (IA 4 / Norridge Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 14.4 miles (N57 / North 1st Street): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Cedar Rapids, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
