Cedar Rapids to Lake Tahoe: Road Trip Guide & Distance

1496.9 miles 2409 km · straight line
1796.3 miles estimated 2890.8 km · driving distance
36h 8min estimated drive time
$173 - $213 estimated fuel cost
~3h 31min flight time
272° W bearing direction

How far is Cedar Rapids from Lake Tahoe?

The distance from Cedar Rapids to Lake Tahoe is 1496.9 miles (2409 km) as the crow flies. Lake Tahoe is located W of Cedar Rapids. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1796.3 miles, taking about 36h 8min. A direct flight would take roughly 3h 31min. Both are located in United States — Cedar Rapids in Iowa and Lake Tahoe in California.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Cedar Rapids and Lake Tahoe. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Cedar Rapids to Lake Tahoe

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 36h 8min $173 - $213 Flexible stops
Fly ~3h 31min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~43h 22min $144–$269* Budget
Train ~46h 58min $216–$629* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Cedar Rapids & Lake Tahoe

Quick Facts

Cedar Rapids
42.01°N, 91.64°W
America/Chicago
247m elevation
Lake Tahoe
39.10°N, 120.03°W
America/Los_Angeles
1897m elevation
Explore more routes from Lake Tahoe

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 499 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 125 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 16.6 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients