Onawa, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA is 244.3 miles and takes about 5h 17m via 230th Street, 220th Street, and 4th Avenue South, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a drive primarily on surface roads, offering a more local feel than interstate travel. With just one recommended stop and a single day of driving, this route is a straightforward option for connecting these two Iowa cities.
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
122.2 miles from Onawa, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
230th Street
77.2 mi
1h 29m
220th Street
44.4 mi
58m
4th Avenue South
29.8 mi
44m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
10.5 mi
14m
County Road N33
10.3 mi
13m
State Highway 37
10 mi
13m
IA 100
8.3 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
230th Street
— 77.2 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,812 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~173 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Onawa, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on 10th Street
29 ft·5 sec·10th Street
2
Turn right onto IA 175
1.0 mi·2 min·Iowa Avenue
3
Continue on IA 175
6.8 mi·9 min·State Highway 175
4
Turn straight onto IA 37
10 mi·13 min·State Highway 37
5
Turn left onto IA 183
6.5 mi·9 min·IA 183
6
At end of road, turn right onto East 1st Street
0.3 mi·35 sec·East 1st Street
7
Continue on IA 141
1.5 mi·2 min·210th Street
8
Continue on IA 141
10 mi·14 min·George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
9
Continue on IA 141
4.5 mi·6 min·M Avenue
10
Turn right onto US 59
2.6 mi·3 min·US 59
11
Turn slight left
519 ft·23 sec
Toward US 30 East: Carroll
12
Continue on US 30
30 mi·44 min·4th Avenue South
13
Continue on US 30
10 mi·13 min·County Road N33
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 30
44 mi·58 min·220th Street
15
Continue on US 30
77 mi·1 hr 29 min·230th Street
16
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
17
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
18
Continue on IA 100
8.3 mi·9 min·IA 100
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
22
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
0.5 mi·38 sec·Avenue of the Saints
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
24
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
25
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
26
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
27
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
28
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
29
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 17m estimated drive time, starting in the morning is ideal for reaching Cedar Rapids within daylight hours. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the midway point or where you feel a need to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 77.2-mile stretch on 230th Street, as services might be less frequent than on major interstates. The $38 fuel cost estimate should help you budget accordingly.
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 122.2 miles from Onawa, IA, or about 2h 51m 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 54 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.2 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 23m
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 Onawa, 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 Onawa, IA
This is one driving day of about 244.3 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Onawa, 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 24.3 and 241.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
24.3 mi into trip|~35m in|East 1st Street
At end of road, turn right onto East 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
232.2 mi into trip|~5h 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
241.5 mi into trip|~5h 11m 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
241.7 mi into trip|~5h 12m 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
241.8 mi into trip|~5h 12m 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
$36.08 one way
$72.16 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$39.83
$79.66
premium
$4.72
$45.36
$90.72
diesel
$4.80
$46.13
$92.26
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: 85.5 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
73.3
0
$25.65
$11.73
Efficient EV
61.1
0
$21.38
$9.77
EV Truck/SUV
97.7
1
$34.20
$15.64
Gas CO2
85 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
Onawa, IA
Late night
in Onawa on Sunday
Local time
1:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 1 to 7 mph18% 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
1:45 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
63°F
Gilbert, IA
122 mi in
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
6 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
5h 17m 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 highway driving accounting for only 14% of the total distance. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 77.2 miles on 230th Street. After that initial highway segment, the majority of your time will be spent on local roads. Be prepared for a more rural cruising experience as you navigate through towns and countryside.
Only 14% 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: 77.2 mi on 230th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 24.3 miles in near East 1st Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 244.3 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 24.3 miles (East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 232.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 241.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 5h 17m. Total distance: 244.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m 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.
Yes — we found about 4 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.3 miles (East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 232.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 241.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cedar Rapids, IA before the return drive.
