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

The driving distance from Cedar Rapids, IA to Ely, IA is about 13.9 miles (22.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 9.8 miles (15.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
13.94 mi
00h 23m
Flight
9.79 mi
15.75 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cedar Rapids.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
9.79 mi
Kilometers
15.75 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
13.94 mi
Kilometers
22.43 km
Drive Time
00h 23m

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 00h 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ely
Wed, Apr 15, 11:41 PM CDT
Return by in Cedar Rapids
Thu, Apr 16, 12:05 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cedar Rapids
2026-04-15T23:18
Arrive Ely
Wed, Apr 15, 11:41 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:23 AM to 7:23 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:44 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Cedar Rapids
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Fairfax
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Cedar Rapids
7 mi
00h 11m
To Ely
7 mi
00h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Today

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 8:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph S
Destination
73°F
Today

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 8:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Tiperary Drive Northeast

    17 m · 3 sec · Tiperary Drive Northeast

  2. 2

    Continue on Tiffany Drive Northeast

    537 ft · 25 sec · Tiffany Drive Northeast

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Lindale Avenue Northeast

    653 ft · 31 sec · Lindale Avenue Northeast

  4. 4

    Turn right onto 29th Street Northeast

    1.2 mi · 2 min · 29th Street Northeast

  5. 5

    Continue on Coldstream Avenue Northeast

    628 ft · 22 sec · Coldstream Avenue Northeast

  6. 6

    Turn left

    1278 ft · 31 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    5.3 mi · 7 min · Avenue of the Saints

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right

    722 ft · 18 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon

    1 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon

    1306 ft · 32 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    1.1 km · 46 sec

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward CR W6E: Ely

    2295 ft · 58 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto C Street Southwest

    658 ft · 20 sec · C Street Southwest

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Ely Road

    3.5 mi · 6 min · Ely Road

  15. 15

    Continue on State Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · State Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Dows Street

    642 ft · 18 sec · Dows Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Dows Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
17 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
122.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
5.41 mi · 39%
Ely Road
3.47 mi · 25%
US 30 East
1.54 mi · 11%
29th Street Northeast
1.18 mi · 8%
State Street
1.06 mi · 8%
CR W6E
0.43 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Avenue of the Saints

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

5.27 mi · 00h 07m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 23m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.1 mi
9.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fairfax
00h 11m from Cedar Rapids
Leave By
7:44 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 13.9 miles (22.4 km) and usually takes 00h 23m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Fairfax is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7 miles from Cedar Rapids and 7 miles from Ely.

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

The direct path is about 9.8 miles (15.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.1 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:44 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.85 one way or $3.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Fairfax

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

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

RAIL

Mount Pleasant

107 mi away
418 North Adams Street
BUS

Davenport, Iowa

109 mi away
304 West River Drive
BUS

Rock Island, IL

112 mi away
3500 5th Avenue
RAIL

Ottumwa station

113 mi away
210 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cedar Rapids and Ely. Straight-line distance: 9.79 mi (15.75 km).

Cedar Rapids

#1 Cedar Rapids

The second most populous city in Iowa.

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

#2 Ely

City in Linn County, Iowa, United States

Population2,382
Coordinates41.8736200, -91.5851800
Altitude225
CountryUnited States
Start: Cedar Rapids (-91.64407, 42.00833)
End: Ely (-91.58518, 41.87362)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 22 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.49 gal
1.86 L · about $1.85
Round trip
$3.70
0.98 gal · 3.72 L
Estimated CO2
4.4 kg one way
Round trip: 8.7 kg / 19 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $1.85 $3.70
Mid-grade $4.25 $2.08 $4.17
Premium $4.65 $2.28 $4.56
Diesel $5.30 $2.60 $5.20

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Cedar Rapids and Ely. The current time is 23:18:25.

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.