Urbandale to Cedar Rapids is 124 miles and takes about 2 hours 31 minutes via Lincoln Highway, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a drive with frequent turns and local road segments, rather than a straight shot on major highways. With only 15% of the drive on highways, this is a more involved, less direct journey, perfect for those who prefer a more grounded travel experience.
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
62 miles from Urbandale, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
37 mi
42m
Northeast Hubbell Road
33.5 mi
39m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
I 80
9 mi
10m
IA 100
8.3 mi
9m
32nd Street Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
1.2 mi
1m
70th Street
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 37 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Urbandale, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.
1
Start on Maryland Drive
13 ft·2 sec·Maryland Drive
2
Turn right onto 70th Street
1.2 mi·2 min·70th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Meredith Drive
4
Turn left onto IA 28
0.5 mi·1 min·Merle Hay Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east
6
Merge onto I 80; I 35
4.0 mi·4 min·I 80; I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35; I 80
0.7 mi·50 sec·I 35; I 80
8
Continue on I 80; I 35
0.6 mi·40 sec·I 80; I 35
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi·5 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi·1 min·US 65
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
12
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
14
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
15
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
16
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
17
Continue on IA 100
8.3 mi·9 min·IA 100
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
21
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
0.5 mi·38 sec·Avenue of the Saints
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 2.5-hour duration and the turn-heavy nature of this route, leaving Urbandale in the morning or early afternoon will give you ample daylight. Plan for one stop, perhaps midway, to break up the drive and account for the frequent turns. The fuel cost is estimated at $19, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before departing. A good tip for this drive is to pay close attention to your GPS, as the numerous turns on local roads can sometimes be tricky to follow if you're not actively navigating.
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 62 miles from Urbandale, IA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37 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 27 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62 miles or 1h 16m 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 2m
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 Urbandale, 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 Urbandale, IA
This is one driving day of about 124 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Urbandale, 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 Lincoln Highway for about 37 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 121.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|Meredith Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Meredith Drive
Navigation decision point
6
8.1 mi into trip|~12m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
12.5 mi into trip|~17m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
7
121.4 mi into trip|~2h 25m 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
121.6 mi into trip|~2h 26m 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
$19.39 one way
$38.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.29
$42.57
premium
$4.89
$23.86
$47.73
diesel
$5.61
$27.38
$54.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.2
0
$13.02
$5.95
Efficient EV
31
0
$10.85
$4.96
EV Truck/SUV
49.6
0
$17.36
$7.94
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (65% 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
Urbandale, IA
Late night
in Urbandale on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Rapids, IA
Late night
in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 15 mph1% chanceLive 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
25 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 31m 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 leans into its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll navigate a series of local roads and state highways more than high-speed interstates. Only about 15% of the journey is on highways, so be prepared for a more engaging driving experience. The longest stretch without a significant turn or change in road type is 37 miles along Lincoln Highway. You'll likely experience varied speeds and more frequent adjustments as you transition between different local routes and the occasional highway segment.
Only 15% 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: 37 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 1.2 miles in near Meredith Drive.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 124 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 1.2 miles (Meredith Drive): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Between Urbandale, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Bondurant and Marion.
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 31m. Total distance: 124 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37 miles on Lincoln Highway. 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 1.2 miles (Meredith Drive): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
