Trip from Rockwell City, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 22m

Distance

174.5 mi

281 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

3h 10m ★

6 AM

3h 22m

8 AM

3h 46m

10 AM

3h 31m

12 PM

3h 28m

3 PM

3h 32m

5 PM

3h 45m

8 PM

3h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Rockwell City, IA

Kelly

Trip Overview

This straightforward 174.5-mile drive from Rockwell City, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA takes approximately 3 hours and 22 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 73% of the journey on major roads, making it a manageable one-day trip. You can expect a fuel cost of around $27 for this journey across the Midwest. While there's one recommended stop, the longest stretch without a turn is a significant 126.6 miles, so plan your breaks accordingly. This route offers a practical way to traverse Iowa, connecting two points efficiently.

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

87.3 miles from Rockwell City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 20	126.6 mi	2h 26m
Avenue of the Saints	42.3 mi	45m
Ogden Avenue	2.5 mi	3m
32nd Street Northeast	1.3 mi	2m
1st Street	1.2 mi	2m
Main Street	0.2 mi	<1m
Tiperary Drive Northeast	<0.1 mi	<1m
Crystal Drive Northeast	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: US 20 — 126.6 mi, about 2h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rockwell City, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.

Start on 4th Street

191 ft · 10 sec · 4th Street

Turn right onto Main Street

0.2 mi · 45 sec · Main Street

Turn left onto 1st Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · 1st Street

Continue on N57

2.5 mi · 3 min · Ogden Avenue

Turn right onto US 20

127 mi · 2 hr 26 min · US 20

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

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Keep slight left at fork

121 ft · 4 sec

Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast

1.3 mi · 2 min · 32nd Street Northeast

Turn right onto Crystal Drive Northeast

184 ft · 10 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast

Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast

177 ft · 7 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast

Continue on Tiperary Drive Northeast

428 ft · 18 sec · Tiperary Drive Northeast

Arrive at destination

Tiperary Drive Northeast

Trip Plan

Given the 3 hour and 22 minute duration, this drive is best tackled in a single day. Consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With a fuel cost estimated at $27, it's wise to fill up before you leave Rockwell City. The longest stretch is over 126 miles, so plan your single stop strategically for fuel or a quick break before hitting that long segment on US 20. This route is designed for efficiency, so embrace the straightforward journey.

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 87.3 miles from Rockwell City, IA, or about 1h 42m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.6 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 38 miles or 45m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 87.3 miles or 1h 42m 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 46m

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 Rockwell 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 Rockwell City, IA

This is one driving day of about 174.5 miles and 3h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Rockwell 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 US 20 for about 126.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cedar Falls, IA

87 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Cedar Falls, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

61.7 mi · 1h 12m

Pacing Suggestions

Webster City, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cedar Falls, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 87.3 miles from Rockwell City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 126.6 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

HuHot Mongolian Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 174.5

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193936000

Visit website

Red Lobster

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

1.5 mi

Persis Biryani Indian Grill

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

1.8 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Kismet Coffee & Bloom

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 174.5

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+13192003218

Visit website

Groundswell Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

2.8 mi

Veritas Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

2.5 mi

HuHot Mongolian Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 174.5

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193936000

Visit website

Red Lobster

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately mile 174.5

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193950450

Visit website

Persis Biryani Indian Grill

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 174.5

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13198262000

Visit website

Rio Burritos

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately mile 174.5

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9:15 pm

+13199815001

Visit website

Napoli's Italian Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 174.5

Marion, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193772100

Visit website

Scott's Family Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 174.5

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+13195504517

Visit website

Cobble Hill

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour Expensive mile 174.5

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 4:30–9 pm

+13193663177

Visit website

Stack Wellness Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 174.5

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+13192005558

Visit website

Kismet Coffee & Bloom

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 174.5

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+13192003218

Visit website

Groundswell Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 174.5

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13192002791

Visit website

Veritas Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 174.5

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Closed

+13192083192

Visit website

Café Saint Pio

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 174.5

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+13192001000

Roasters Coffeehouse NewBo

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 174.5

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

Opus Concert Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 174.5

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13193668203

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 174.5

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

+18006360986

Visit website

Bistro at Blooms

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 174.5

Marion, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–2:30 pm

+13194499996

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 173.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Main Street

Turn right onto Main Street

Navigation decision point

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | 1st Street

Turn left onto 1st Street

Navigation decision point

130.5 mi into trip | ~2h 32m 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

172.8 mi into trip | ~3h 18m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

173.1 mi into trip | ~3h 19m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$27.28 one way

$54.56 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 61 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$29.95	$59.91
premium	$4.89	$33.58	$67.16
diesel	$5.61	$38.53	$77.05

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 61.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	52.4	$18.32	$8.38
Efficient EV	43.6	$15.27	$6.98
EV Truck/SUV	69.8	$24.43	$11.17

Gas CO2

61 kg

EV CO2

20 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

Rockwell City, IA

Morning in Rockwell City on Sunday

Local time

8:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cedar Rapids, IA

Morning in Cedar Rapids on Sunday

Local time

8:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

36°F

Mostly Cloudy

NW 15 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 17 at 11:29PM 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

13 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

3h 22m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 174.5-mile trip, with 73% of the drive utilizing major roads like US 20 and the Avenue of the Saints. You'll encounter one long, uninterrupted stretch of 126.6 miles primarily on US 20, so settle in for a consistent pace. The profile suggests a mostly highway drive, meaning you'll likely experience steady speeds for extended periods. While not a winding scenic byway, it’s a direct path designed for efficient travel across the Iowa landscape.

73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 126.6 mi on US 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Avenue of the Saints. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 22m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 130.5 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Arriving in Cedar Rapids, IA

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 22m. Total distance: 174.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (73%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 126.6 miles on US 20. 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.

Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Cedar Rapids, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Rockwell City, IA or browse trips ending in Cedar Rapids, IA.

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Trip from Rockwell City, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

HuHot Mongolian Grill

Kismet Coffee & Bloom

HuHot Mongolian Grill

Red Lobster

Persis Biryani Indian Grill

Rio Burritos

Napoli's Italian Restaurant

Scott's Family Restaurant

Cobble Hill

Stack Wellness Cafe

Kismet Coffee & Bloom

Groundswell Cafe

Veritas Cafe

Café Saint Pio

Roasters Coffeehouse NewBo

Opus Concert Cafe

Trading Grounds

Tesla Supercharger

Blink Charging Station

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Shell Recharge Charging Station

EV Connect Charging Station

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Bistro at Blooms

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Rockwell City, IA

Cedar Rapids, IA

Same local time

13 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 22m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Arriving in Cedar Rapids, IA

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Cedar Rapids, IA

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