Cedar Valley Highways: Exits, 24-Hour Stops and Closures

• I-380 north: exits 49 to 72, from Brandon past Evansdale to the end of the interstate at Mitchell Avenue in Waterloo.
• US-20 and US-218: US-20 runs from Iowa 14 at exit 208 east to Iowa 187 at exit 266. US-218 runs from downtown Waterloo through Cedar Falls and Waverly to Iowa 346 for Nashua at exit 220.
• US-63: Sergeant Road in southwest Waterloo, the 1st and Mullan avenue pair downtown, and Logan Avenue to the north. Past the city it is a divided highway, with exits at Denver (175, County C50) and Iowa 3 (178), then a four-lane expressway shared with US-18 into New Hampton.
• Iowa 150, US-18 and Iowa 3: the primary highways that carry the most traffic in Fayette County. Iowa 3 and Iowa 150 meet at Oelwein, and Iowa 150 meets US-20 at Independence.

On Logan Avenue in north Waterloo, US-63 crosses the Canadian National tracks on a viaduct. It opened on November 1, 2019, replacing an underpass that used to flood. North of the city, Iowa DOT plans to rebuild the US-63 crossing at Black Hawk County Road C-57 as a reduced conflict intersection. Construction is set for spring 2028 (announced August 12, 2026).

I-380, US-20 and long stretches of US-218 and US-63 are divided highways. The direction you were driving matters as much as the exit, because help has to reach your side. Note the last exit or the nearest mile-marker post. On the shared I-380 and US-20 stretch, give the I-380 number.

Keep the hazards on and the belts fastened while you wait on a shoulder, or stand back behind a guardrail if there is room. A crash, an injury or a car stuck in a lane goes to 911. Anything else goes to (319) 271-6565, where we give you the price and the timing first.

I-380's only rest areas are at mile marker 13 near Cedar Rapids. Every state rest area in Iowa sits on an interstate, so US-20, US-218 and US-63 have none. The main roads have two 24-hour stops. Love's Travel Stop #702 is at US-20 exit 227 in Waterloo, and Flying J Travel Center #637 is at I-380 exit 68 in Evansdale.

• Blizzard closures: on March 15, 2026, Iowa DOT and law enforcement shut stretches of I-80 and I-35. An interstate closed for a blizzard stays closed until conditions improve, with no set time to reopen. Officials advise against detouring onto roads that are not freeways, which are likely hazardous and offer little shelter or service.
• US-20 between Hudson Road and US-63: concrete replacement since March 2026. Iowa 511 lists the work zone until November 30, 2026, with eastbound drivers sharing the roadway with oncoming traffic. The ramps onto westbound US-20 from southbound Iowa 58 and from northbound US-63 are closed, with detours.
• US-218 between Janesville and Waverly: one lane each way on the old northbound lanes since July 13, 2026. Iowa DOT expects the rebuild to finish by mid-December 2026, weather permitting.
• Every work zone: Iowa DOT reminds drivers that moving-violation fines there are at least double.

In severe winter weather, a trip can take three or four times longer than normal, and blowing snow can drift a cleared road shut again. Iowa 511 posts road conditions, closures and travel-not-advised alerts at 511ia.org. You can also dial 511 from a phone in Iowa, or 800-288-1047 from anywhere. Check it before a storm drive, and again before you pick a detour.