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

The driving distance from Cedar Rapids, IA to Carlisle, IA is about 125.3 miles (201.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 101.5 miles (163.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 03m 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
125.32 mi
02h 31m
Flight
101.45 mi
163.27 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
101.45 mi
Kilometers
163.27 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
125.32 mi
Kilometers
201.68 km
Drive Time
02h 31m

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 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Carlisle
Sun, Apr 12, 10:01 AM CDT
Return by in Cedar Rapids
Sun, Apr 12, 12:32 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cedar Rapids
2026-04-12T07:29
Arrive Carlisle
Sun, Apr 12, 10:01 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:32 AM to 12:32 PM CDT

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

Leave by
1:26 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
Le Grand
IA

City in Marshall County, Iowa, United States

From Cedar Rapids
62.6 mi
01h 15m
To Carlisle
62.8 mi
01h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph S
Destination
72°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 to 22 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    33.7 mi · 40 min · Marshalltown Boulevard

  16. 16

    Continue on Northeast Hubbell Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

  17. 17

    Continue on Hubbell Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Hubbell Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left

    2686 ft · 1 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

    9.6 mi · 11 min · Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 5 South: Carlisle

    3203 ft · 1 min

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    1.9 mi · 2 min

  22. 22

    Turn left onto South 5th Street

    1723 ft · 1 min · South 5th Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 5th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Lincoln Highway
37.3 mi · 30%
Marshalltown Boulevard
33.7 mi · 27%
73rd Street
24.4 mi · 19%
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
9.6 mi · 8%
Collins Road Northeast
8.16 mi · 7%
IA 5 South
2.5 mi · 2%
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
02h 31m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.8 mi
101.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Le Grand
01h 15m from Cedar Rapids
Leave By
1:26 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Cedar Rapids and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms near Carlisle.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 125.3 miles (201.7 km) and usually takes 02h 31m 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?

Le Grand is a useful midpoint, sitting about 62.6 miles from Cedar Rapids and 62.8 miles from Carlisle.

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

The direct path is about 101.5 miles (163.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.8 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 1:26 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.67 one way or $33.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 39.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Cedar Rapids and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms near Carlisle.

Stop Ideas Near Le Grand

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

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

RAIL

Ottumwa station

114 mi away
210 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cedar Rapids and Carlisle. Straight-line distance: 101.45 mi (163.27 km).

Cedar Rapids

#1 Cedar Rapids

The second most populous city in Iowa.

Population134,027
Coordinates42.0083300, -91.6440700
Altitude247
CountryUnited States
Carlisle

#2 Carlisle

City in Warren and Polk counties in the U.

Population4,323
Coordinates41.5008200, -93.4910500
Altitude260
CountryUnited States
Start: Cedar Rapids (-91.64407, 42.00833)
End: Carlisle (-93.49105, 41.50082)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 202 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.42 gal
16.74 L · about $16.67
Round trip
$33.34
8.84 gal · 33.48 L
Estimated CO2
39.3 kg one way
Round trip: 78.6 kg / 173 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $16.67 $33.34
Mid-grade $4.25 $18.80 $37.60
Premium $4.65 $20.57 $41.14
Diesel $5.30 $23.44 $46.89

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Cedar Rapids and Carlisle. The current time is 07:29:40.

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.