Spanning 284.7 miles across the Iowa landscape, this drive from Osceola County to Cedar Rapids typically takes about 4 hours and 39 minutes. Because the trip is manageable in a single day, you can easily complete it without needing an overnight stay, keeping your travel plans straightforward. Budgeting approximately $42 for fuel is a smart way to prepare for the journey through the heart of the Midwest. Since the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you should plan for a slower, more deliberate pace. This trip is ideal for those who prefer an immersive look at the local geography over the speed of high-traffic transit corridors.
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
142.3 miles from Osceola County, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
164.9 mi
3h 10m
Avenue of the Saints
42.3 mi
45m
Silver Avenue
13.5 mi
19m
County Highway A30
13 mi
17m
20th Avenue
9.2 mi
12m
Railroad Street
6.6 mi
9m
Armstrong Avenue
6 mi
8m
470th Street
4.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 164.9 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Osceola County, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on Silver Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Silver Avenue
2
Turn right onto 190th Street
1.0 mi·3 min·190th Street
3
Turn left onto US 59
13 mi·17 min·County Highway A30
4
Turn left onto US 18; US 59
1.0 mi·1 min·320th Street
5
Turn right onto US 59
6.0 mi·8 min·Silver Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on US 59
1.6 mi·2 min·North Rerick Avenue
7
Continue on US 59
7.2 mi·9 min·Silver Avenue
8
Continue on US 59; IA 10
4.1 mi·5 min·470th Street
9
Turn right onto US 59
4.0 mi·5 min·Tanager Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on US 59
3.1 mi·4 min·Q Avenue
11
Continue on US 59
6.6 mi·9 min·Railroad Street
12
Turn left onto IA 3
2.7 mi·3 min·State Highway 3
13
Turn left onto IA 3
3.4 mi·4 min·530th Street
14
Turn right onto IA 7
2.0 mi·2 min·V Avenue
15
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi·2 min·1st Street
16
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi·2 min·State Highway 7
17
Continue on IA 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 7
18
Turn right onto 20th Avenue
9.2 mi·12 min·20th Avenue
19
Continue on CR M27
6.0 mi·8 min·Armstrong Avenue
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 20
165 mi·3 hr 10 min·220th Street
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
42 mi·45 min·Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
23
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·4 sec
24
Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi·2 min·32nd Street Northeast
25
Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast
184 ft·10 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
26
Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast
177 ft·7 sec·Crystal Drive Northeast
27
Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast
428 ft·18 sec·Tiperary Drive Northeast
28
Arrive at destination
Tiperary Drive Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 284.7-mile journey, you should prioritize a departure during daylight hours to ensure clear visibility on local roads. While the duration is under five hours, scheduling at least one intentional stop will help break up the technical driving and keep you fresh. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially when navigating the smaller county roads where service stations may be less frequent than on major interstates. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so don't feel rushed to reach Cedar Rapids in record time. Focus on maintaining a steady, comfortable pace to navigate the winding turns of County Highway A30 safely.
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 142.3 miles from Osceola County, IA, or about 3h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 164.9 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 63 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.3 miles or 3h 5m 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 50m
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 Osceola County, 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 Osceola County, IA
This is one driving day of about 284.5 miles and 5h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Osceola County, 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 164.9 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 0.3 and 283.1 — 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|190th Street
Turn right onto 190th Street
Navigation decision point
6
15.3 mi into trip|~24m in|US 59 / Silver Avenue
Turn right onto US 59 / Silver Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
34.2 mi into trip|~50m in|US 59 / Tanager Avenue
Turn right onto US 59 / Tanager Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
240.5 mi into trip|~4h 58m in|I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
283.1 mi into trip|~5h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.48 one way
$88.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$48.84
$97.67
premium
$4.89
$54.75
$109.50
diesel
$5.61
$62.81
$125.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.4
1
$29.87
$13.66
Efficient EV
71.1
0
$24.89
$11.38
EV Truck/SUV
113.8
1
$39.83
$18.21
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Osceola County, IA
Evening
in Osceola County on Saturday
Local time
8:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Evening
in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
Local time
8:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Centerville, IA
142 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
5h 48m 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 turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, favoring local thoroughfares like 190th Street, County Highway A30, and 320th Street. You will navigate a series of technical segments rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of pavement. The experience is intimate and rural, offering a distinct departure from typical highway travel as you transition through the diverse pockets of the Iowa countryside. Prepare for frequent adjustments in your driving rhythm as you navigate these secondary roads.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 164.9 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 190th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 48m drive. You will face about 12 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 (190th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.3 miles (US 59 / Silver Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.2 miles (US 59 / Tanager Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 164.9 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.
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 0.3 miles (190th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.3 miles (US 59 / Silver Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.2 miles (US 59 / Tanager Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 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.
