How far is Cedar Rapids, IA from Baxter, IA?

The driving distance from Cedar Rapids, IA to Baxter, IA is about 94.3 miles (151.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 78.5 miles (126.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 59m 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
94.28 mi
01h 59m
Flight
78.52 mi
126.37 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cedar Rapids.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
78.52 mi
Kilometers
126.37 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
94.28 mi
Kilometers
151.73 km
Drive Time
01h 59m

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 01h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Baxter
Sat, May 23, 5:36 PM CDT
Return by in Cedar Rapids
Sat, May 23, 7:36 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cedar Rapids
2026-05-23T15:36
Arrive Baxter
Sat, May 23, 5:36 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM CDT

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

Leave by
2:30 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cedar Rapids
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
Chelsea
IA

City in Iowa, US

From Cedar Rapids
47 mi
00h 59m
To Baxter
47.2 mi
00h 59m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
72°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cedar Rapids and Baxter.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids and Baxter.

  1. 1

    Start on Tiperary Drive Northeast

    604 ft · 32 sec · Tiperary Drive Northeast

  2. 2

    Continue on Crystal Drive Northeast

    56 m · 13 sec · Crystal Drive Northeast

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 32nd Street Northeast

    1.2 mi · 2 min · 32nd Street Northeast

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right

    1233 ft · 30 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    2842 ft · 41 sec · Avenue of the Saints

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 100

    1797 ft · 38 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 west: Waterloo

    764 ft · 21 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left onto I-380 south, IA 27 south, IA 100 west: Iowa City

    1801 ft · 46 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Collins Road Northeast

    8.2 mi · 9 min · Collins Road Northeast

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown

    1.2 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto 16th Avenue Southwest

    2.4 mi · 3 min · 16th Avenue Southwest

  12. 12

    Continue on 73rd Street

    24.4 mi · 28 min · 73rd Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Lincoln Highway

    37.3 mi · 43 min · Lincoln Highway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines

    1818 ft · 46 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Marshalltown Boulevard

    5.5 mi · 6 min · Marshalltown Boulevard

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Hart Avenue

    6.4 mi · 11 min · Hart Avenue

  17. 17

    Continue on County S62 North

    2.9 mi · 5 min · County S62 North

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Highway F 17 West

    1.6 km · 2 min · Highway F 17 West

  19. 19

    Continue on County Highway F17 West

    1.5 mi · 3 min · County Highway F17 West

  20. 20

    Continue on East Buchannan Street

    1809 ft · 38 sec · East Buchannan Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    2218 ft · 2 min · South Main Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cedar Rapids and Baxter.

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
22 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
23.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Lincoln Highway
37.3 mi · 40%
73rd Street
24.4 mi · 26%
Collins Road Northeast
8.16 mi · 9%
Hart Avenue
6.42 mi · 7%
Marshalltown Boulevard
5.49 mi · 6%
County S62 North
2.92 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Lincoln Highway

Continue on Lincoln Highway

37.3 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
01h 59m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.8 mi
78.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chelsea
00h 59m from Cedar Rapids
Leave By
2:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Cedar Rapids and Partly Sunny near Baxter.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cedar Rapids to Baxter?

The road trip is about 94.3 miles (151.7 km) and usually takes 01h 59m 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?

Chelsea is a useful midpoint, sitting about 47 miles from Cedar Rapids and 47.2 miles from Baxter.

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

The direct path is about 78.5 miles (126.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.8 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 2:30 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.56 one way or $25.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 29.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Cedar Rapids and Partly Sunny near Baxter.

Stop Ideas Near Chelsea

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Chelsea, 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 Chelsea.

RAIL

Ottumwa station

100 mi away
210 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cedar Rapids and Baxter. Straight-line distance: 78.52 mi (126.37 km).

Cedar Rapids

#1 Cedar Rapids

The second most populous city in Iowa.

Population134,027
Coordinates42.0083300, -91.6440700
Altitude247
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Baxter

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

Population1,132
Coordinates41.8261000, -93.1515900
Altitude306
CountryUnited States
Start: Cedar Rapids (-91.64407, 42.00833)
End: Baxter (-93.15159, 41.8261)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 152 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 08m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.33 gal
12.59 L · about $12.56
Round trip
$25.11
6.66 gal · 25.18 L
Estimated CO2
29.6 kg one way
Round trip: 59.2 kg / 131 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $12.56 $25.11
Mid-grade $4.25 $14.16 $28.32
Premium $4.65 $15.50 $31.00
Diesel $5.30 $17.66 $35.32

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 · May 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Cedar Rapids and Baxter. The current time is 15:36:30.

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.