How far is Cedar Falls, IA from Adel, IA?

The driving distance from Cedar Falls, IA to Adel, IA is about 126.6 miles (203.8 km), with a travel time of about 02h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 102.4 miles (164.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
126.6 mi
02h 45m
Flight
102.38 mi
164.77 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cedar Falls.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
102.38 mi
Kilometers
164.77 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
126.6 mi
Kilometers
203.75 km
Drive Time
02h 45m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Adel
Fri, Apr 17, 2:11 AM CDT
Return by in Cedar Falls
Fri, Apr 17, 4:57 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cedar Falls
2026-04-16T23:26
Arrive Adel
Fri, Apr 17, 2:11 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:46 AM to 12:46 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:58 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cedar Falls
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Haverhill
IA

Human settlement in Marshall County, Iowa, United States of America

From Cedar Falls
63.3 mi
01h 22m
To Adel
63.4 mi
01h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Today

Patchy Fog then Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 7:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph W
Destination
78°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 12 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cedar Falls and Adel.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls and Adel.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    16 m · 8 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Main Street

    19 m · 1 sec · Main Street

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Main Street

    32 m · 2 sec · Main Street

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto Main Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Main Street

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Main Street

    24 m · 2 sec · Main Street

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto Main Street

    993 ft · 22 sec · Main Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto University Avenue

    1.7 mi · 3 min · University Avenue

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward University Avenue

    38 m · 3 sec · University Avenue

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto University Avenue

    3.5 mi · 5 min · University Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on Grundy Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Grundy Road

  11. 11

    Take the ramp right

    2235 ft · 54 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    11.3 mi · 13 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center

    2083 ft · 59 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto N Avenue

    4.5 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn right onto 210th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 210th Street

  16. 16

    Turn sharp left onto County Road T37

    1 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

  17. 17

    Continue on M Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto 240th Street

    6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

    15.9 mi · 22 min · Sanford Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn right onto 160th Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 160th Street

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on North Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Marsh Avenue

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn right

    35.9 mi · 43 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

    13 mi · 16 min

  25. 25

    Continue straight

    4 mi · 5 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6: Hickman Road, Adel

    1898 ft · 49 sec

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Hickman Road

    9.4 mi · 14 min · Hickman Road

  28. 28

    Continue on 290th Street

    2.4 mi · 3 min · 290th Street

  29. 29

    Continue on Greene Street

    1 km · 1 min · Greene Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Nile Kinnick Drive South

    5 m · 1 sec · Nile Kinnick Drive South

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Nile Kinnick Drive South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cedar Falls and Adel.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
31 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
1 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 west
17 mi · 13%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 13%
Grundy Road
12.5 mi · 10%
Hickman Road
9.42 mi · 7%
240th Street
6.28 mi · 5%
Marsh Avenue
5.95 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn right

35.9 mi · 00h 43m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 45m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.2 mi
102.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Haverhill
01h 22m from Cedar Falls
Leave By
12:58 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog then Sunny leaving Cedar Falls and Sunny near Adel.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cedar Falls to Adel?

The road trip is about 126.6 miles (203.8 km) and usually takes 02h 45m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Haverhill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 63.3 miles from Cedar Falls and 63.4 miles from Adel.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 102.4 miles (164.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:58 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.86 one way or $33.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 39.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Sunny around Cedar Falls and Sunny near Adel.

Stop Ideas Near Haverhill

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Haverhill, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Haverhill.

RAIL

Ottumwa station

112 mi away
210 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cedar Falls and Adel. Straight-line distance: 102.38 mi (164.77 km).

Cedar Falls

#1 Cedar Falls

The largest city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

Population40,231
Coordinates42.5277600, -92.4454700
Altitude268
CountryUnited States
Adel

#2 Adel

City in Iowa

Population5,607
Coordinates41.6144300, -94.0174500
Altitude272
CountryUnited States
Start: Cedar Falls (-92.44547, 42.52776)
End: Adel (-94.01745, 41.61443)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 204 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.47 gal
16.91 L · about $16.86
Round trip
$33.71
8.94 gal · 33.82 L
Estimated CO2
39.7 kg one way
Round trip: 79.4 kg / 175 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $16.86 $33.71
Mid-grade $4.25 $19.01 $38.02
Premium $4.65 $20.80 $41.61
Diesel $5.30 $23.71 $47.42

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Iowa · Apr 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Cedar Falls and Adel. The current time is 23:26:06.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.