Spanning 217.7 miles across Iowa, this trip from Le Mars to Cedar Falls is an efficient journey that typically takes 4 hours and 26 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, it functions perfectly as a one-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $33 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. The route traverses the heart of the Midwest, moving across the state on a path that balances local roads with broader highway access. It is a straightforward trip for those looking to traverse the region efficiently, though the turn-heavy nature of the local segments requires your full attention.
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
108.9 miles from Le Mars, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
148.1 mi
2h 50m
Highway 20
19 mi
22m
United States Highway 20
8.3 mi
10m
Oyens Avenue
7 mi
9m
Lee Avenue
5.4 mi
7m
University Avenue
5.3 mi
8m
County Road K64
5 mi
6m
State Highway 3
4.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 148.1 mi, about 2h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Le Mars, IA and Cedar Falls, IA.
1
Start on 1st Street Northeast
0.3 mi·1 min·1st Street Northeast
2
Turn left onto IA 3
0.1 mi·16 sec·5th Avenue Northeast
3
Continue on IA 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Lincoln Street Northeast
4
Continue on IA 3
4.7 mi·6 min·State Highway 3
5
Turn right onto County Road K64
5.0 mi·6 min·County Road K64
6
Continue on Oyens Avenue
7.0 mi·9 min·Oyens Avenue
7
Turn left onto CR C60
2.0 mi·2 min·C 60
8
Turn right onto County Road C66
2.4 mi·3 min·County Road C66
9
Continue on 310th Street
1.4 mi·1 min·310th Street
10
Turn straight onto County Highway C66
0.8 mi·1 min·County Highway C66
11
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi·52 sec·Main Street
12
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East 3rd Street
13
Continue on C66
2.0 mi·2 min·320th Street
14
Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi·2 min·Shamrock Avenue
15
Continue on L21
5.4 mi·7 min·Lee Avenue
16
Turn left onto US 20
19 mi·22 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi·10 min·United States Highway 20
18
Continue on US 20
148 mi·2 hr 50 min·220th Street
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward CR D18: Cedar Falls
20
Turn left onto Grundy Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Grundy Road
21
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi·4 min·University Avenue
22
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
88 ft·1 sec·University Avenue
23
Continue on University Avenue
1.7 mi·3 min·University Avenue
24
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Main Street
25
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
77 ft·1 sec·Main Street
26
Continue on Main Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
27
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
74 ft·1 sec·Main Street
28
Continue on Main Street
21 ft·0 sec·Main Street
29
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day trip, planning for one well-timed stop will help you maintain your energy through the 4-hour and 26-minute duration. Given the high percentage of local road travel, aim to depart early to account for varying traffic speeds and the numerous turns you will navigate. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before starting that long 148.1-mile segment on 220th Street, as local stretches may have fewer service stations than major highways. Because the route is relatively compact, you have the flexibility to adjust your start time to avoid peak local traffic hours. Always double-check your navigation before hitting the 220th Street portion to ensure you stay on track through the winding local segments.
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 108.9 miles from Le Mars, IA, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.1 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 48 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.9 miles or 2h 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 3h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Falls, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Le Mars, 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 Le Mars, IA
This is one driving day of about 217.7 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Le Mars, 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 148.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 216.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|IA 3 / 5th Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto IA 3 / 5th Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
4
19.9 mi into trip|~28m in|County Road C66
Turn right onto County Road C66
Navigation decision point
6
34.7 mi into trip|~49m in|US 20 / Highway 20
Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
215 mi into trip|~4h 20m in|University Avenue
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
216.9 mi into trip|~4h 24m in|Main Street
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.03 one way
$68.07 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.37
$74.74
premium
$4.89
$41.89
$83.79
diesel
$5.61
$48.07
$96.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.3
0
$22.86
$10.45
Efficient EV
54.4
0
$19.05
$8.71
EV Truck/SUV
87.1
1
$30.48
$13.93
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Le Mars, IA
Night
in Le Mars on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Falls, IA
Night
in Cedar Falls on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
4h 26m 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?
Expect a drive defined by its turn-heavy local personality rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will spend time on Highway 20 and U.S. Highway 20, only 15% of the total distance consists of high-speed highway travel. You will encounter a significant 148.1-mile stretch on 220th Street, which serves as the backbone of your journey. Transitioning between these local roads and the major highway sections keeps the experience dynamic. Prepare for a more hands-on driving experience, as the route relies heavily on local navigation rather than wide, straight-shot thoroughfares.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 148.1 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 around 0.3 miles in near IA 3 / 5th Avenue Northeast.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 26m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (IA 3 / 5th Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles (County Road C66): Navigation decision point; at 34.7 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 26m. Total distance: 217.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 148.1 miles on 220th Street. 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: at 0.3 miles (IA 3 / 5th Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles (County Road C66): Navigation decision point; at 34.7 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Cedar Falls, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
