Ogden, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is 130 miles and takes about 2 hours 35 minutes via 230th Street, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Iowa, making it a straightforward trip between two points in the same state. Expect a local road experience for the majority of this journey, which is well within the scope of a single day. It's a practical option if you're looking for a direct connection without much fuss.
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
65 miles from Ogden, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
230th Street
77.2 mi
1h 29m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
220th Street
12.8 mi
15m
IA 100
8.3 mi
9m
32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
South 1st Street
0.5 mi
1m
Avenue of the Saints
0.5 mi
<1m
H Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
230th Street
— 77.2 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ogden, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on CR E41
87 ft·7 sec·East Walnut Street
2
Turn left onto South 1st Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South 1st Street
3
Continue on US 169
0.2 mi·27 sec·H Avenue
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
5
Merge onto US 30
13 mi·15 min·220th Street
6
Continue on US 30
77 mi·1 hr 29 min·230th Street
7
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
8
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
9
Continue on IA 100
8.3 mi·9 min·IA 100
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
13
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
0.5 mi·38 sec·Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
15
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
16
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
17
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
18
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
19
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
20
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2 hour 35 minute duration, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You could easily depart mid-morning and still arrive with plenty of daylight. There's one recommended stop, so plan for a brief pause to stretch your legs or grab a quick snack. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $20 budget is based on local road travel, which can sometimes consume more fuel than highway driving. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to your GPS when navigating the numerous turns on 230th Street and 73rd Street to avoid unnecessary detours.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65 miles from Ogden, IA, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.2 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 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65 miles or 1h 17m 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 5m
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 Ogden, 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 Ogden, IA
This is one driving day of about 129.9 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Ogden, 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 230th Street for about 77.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 127.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
117.8 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
5
127.1 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
7
127.3 mi into trip|~2h 30m 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
127.5 mi into trip|~2h 30m 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
$20.31 one way
$40.62 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.30
$44.60
premium
$4.89
$25.00
$50.00
diesel
$5.61
$28.68
$57.36
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: 45.4 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
39
0
$13.64
$6.24
Efficient EV
32.5
0
$11.37
$5.20
EV Truck/SUV
52
0
$18.19
$8.31
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
Ogden, IA
Late night
in Ogden on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:33AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM 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
17 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 35m 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 route is characterized by frequent turns, giving it a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. Only about 6% of the drive involves highway travel, meaning you'll be on smaller roads for most of the 2 hours and 35 minutes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 77.2 miles on 230th Street, which offers a chance to settle in before navigating the more intricate sections. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience as you transition between different local roads.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.2 mi on 230th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 129.9 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 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 117.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ogden, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marion along the way.
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 35m. Total distance: 129.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.2 miles on 230th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 117.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cedar Rapids, IA before heading back.
