Orange City, IA to Cedar Falls, IA is 226.2 miles and takes about 4h 37m via Highway 20, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, entirely within Iowa. Expect a drive that's mostly on surface roads, making it a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for some flexibility in your schedule.
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
113.1 miles from Orange City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
148.1 mi
2h 50m
Highway 20
19 mi
22m
State Highway 140
15.1 mi
20m
United States Highway 20
8.3 mi
10m
County Road L14
7 mi
9m
Lee Avenue
5.4 mi
7m
University Avenue
5.3 mi
8m
Kiwi Avenue
5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 148.1 mi, about 2h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orange City, IA and Cedar Falls, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Street Northwest
430 ft·25 sec·2nd Street Northwest
2
Turn right onto Albany Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Albany Avenue
3
Turn left onto IA 10
0.2 mi·35 sec·8th Street Southeast
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on IA 10
0.7 mi·1 min·450th Street
5
Enter roundabout onto 450th Street
79 ft·4 sec·450th Street
6
Continue on 450th Street
2.0 mi·2 min·450th Street
7
Turn right onto IA 10
0.8 mi·1 min·Kennedy Avenue
8
Continue on IA 10
0.3 mi·24 sec·State Highway 10
9
Continue on IA 10
1.8 mi·2 min·460th Street
10
Turn right onto L14
5.0 mi·6 min·Kiwi Avenue
11
Continue on L14
7.0 mi·9 min·County Road L14
12
Continue on IA 140
15 mi·20 min·State Highway 140
13
Turn left onto 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
Given the 4h 37m estimated drive time, starting your trip in Orange City in the morning will comfortably get you to Cedar Falls before evening. The route has only one suggested stop, so you can plan your breaks as needed, perhaps around the halfway point or when you feel ready. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longer surface road sections, as stations might be less frequent than on major interstates. A good tip for this route is to be prepared for varying speed limits as you transition between Highway 20 and local roads like 220th Street.
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 113.1 miles from Orange City, IA, or about 2h 23m 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 50 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.1 miles or 2h 23m 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 46m
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 Orange 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 Orange City, IA
This is one driving day of about 226.2 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Orange 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 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 225.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Albany Avenue
Turn right onto Albany Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|IA 10 / 8th Street Southeast
Turn left onto IA 10 / 8th Street Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
43.2 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|US 20 / Highway 20
Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
223.5 mi into trip|~4h 32m in|University Avenue
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
225.4 mi into trip|~4h 36m in|Main Street
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.40 one way
$66.81 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$36.88
$73.76
premium
$4.72
$42.00
$84.00
diesel
$4.80
$42.71
$85.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.9
0
$23.75
$10.86
Efficient EV
56.6
0
$19.79
$9.05
EV Truck/SUV
90.5
1
$31.67
$14.48
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Orange City, IA
Late night
in Orange City on Sunday
Local time
1:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
ENE 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 10:14AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Cedar Falls, IA
Late night
in Cedar Falls on Sunday
Local time
1:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
N 9 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 10:14AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
63°F
Somers, IA
113 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
1 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
4h 37m 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 drive is predominantly on surface roads, with highways making up only 19% of the route. You'll experience a significant stretch of 148.1 miles on 220th Street, offering a consistent, rural cruising experience. The transition from highway to these more local roads means you'll notice a change in speed and scenery as you move away from faster-paced driving environments.
Only 19% 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 0.1 miles in near Albany Avenue.
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 37m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Albany Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (IA 10 / 8th Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.2 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
Cedar Falls is home to University of Northern Iowa, the third-largest public university in the state of Iowa. It is part of a larger metropolitan area that also includes the cities of Waterloo, Hudson, Evansdale, Elk Run Heights, and Raymond. The Cedar River bisects the community from west to east.
Top landmarks
•Cotton Theatre — theater in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States
•Cedar Falls Downtown Historic District — nationally recognized historic district located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United Sta...
The longest stretch is about 148.1 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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.
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 0.1 miles (Albany Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (IA 10 / 8th Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.2 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Cedar Falls, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
