Lamoni, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is 200.5 miles and takes about 3h 52m via I 35 and Lincoln Highway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive that's manageable in a single day, making it a good option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. You'll encounter a mix of highway and surface roads, so be prepared for a change in driving pace.
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
100.3 miles from Lamoni, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
81.8 mi
1h 29m
Lincoln Highway
37 mi
42m
Northeast Hubbell Road
33.5 mi
39m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
IA 100
8.3 mi
9m
I 80
4.5 mi
5m
West Main Street
2.4 mi
3m
32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 81.8 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,079 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,463
Quietest
2 AM
~154 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Lamoni, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
125 ft·5 sec·West 4th Street
2
Turn right onto South Chestnut Street
237 ft·12 sec·South Chestnut Street
3
Turn right onto US 69
2.4 mi·3 min·West Main Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
5
Merge onto I 35
82 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi·5 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi·1 min·US 65
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
9
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
11
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
12
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
13
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
14
Continue on IA 100
8.3 mi·9 min·IA 100
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
18
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
0.5 mi·38 sec·Avenue of the Saints
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
20
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
21
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
22
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
23
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
24
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
25
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Since this drive is under 4 hours, you can easily complete it in one day. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight, especially if you want to stop. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 81.8 miles on I 35, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly. With a fuel cost estimate of $31, it's a budget-friendly trip. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 35 to surface roads like the Lincoln Highway, which will signal a change in your driving environment.
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 100.3 miles from Lamoni, IA, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.8 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 44 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.3 miles or 1h 53m 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 8m
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 Lamoni, 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 Lamoni, IA
This is one driving day of about 200.5 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Lamoni, 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 I 35 for about 81.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 198 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.8 mi into trip|~4m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
84.5 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
89 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
7
197.9 mi into trip|~3h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
7
198 mi into trip|~3h 47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.61 one way
$59.22 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$32.69
$65.38
premium
$4.72
$37.23
$74.45
diesel
$4.80
$37.86
$75.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.2
0
$21.05
$9.62
Efficient EV
50.1
0
$17.54
$8.02
EV Truck/SUV
80.2
1
$28.07
$12.83
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Lamoni, IA
Evening
in Lamoni on Monday
Local time
6:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 6 mph34% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:08PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Evening
in Cedar Rapids on Monday
Local time
6:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:08PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
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
4 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
3h 52m 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?
About 47% of this 200.5-mile route is on highways. You'll experience a long stretch of 81.8 miles on I 35 before transitioning to surface roads like the Lincoln Highway. Expect some urban merging and then more rural cruising as you cover the distance. The profile is mixed highway and surface, so be ready for a change in speed and road conditions.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.8 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in near I 35.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 200.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.5 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 89 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,163 ft808 ft
Total Climb
114 ft
Total Descent
434 ft
Highest Point
1,163 ft
~28.6 mi in
Elevation Range
355 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lamoni, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Bondurant and Marion.
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 3h 52m. Total distance: 200.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81.8 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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 route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. 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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.5 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 89 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Cedar Rapids, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
