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Trip from Adel, IA to Marion, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 27m

Distance

142 mi

229 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 17m ★
6 AM
2h 27m
8 AM
2h 47m
10 AM
2h 34m
12 PM
2h 32m
3 PM
2h 35m
5 PM
2h 46m
8 PM
2h 21m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Iowa, United States

Adel, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Linn County, Iowa, United States

Marion, IA

Joanna Bogacz

Trip Overview

The drive from Adel, IA to Marion, IA covers 142 miles and takes about 2h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Greene Street, 290th Street, I-35 north for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.20 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

71 miles from Adel, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 142 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 27m drive with frequent turns across 142 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Greene Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Adel, IA to Marion, IA is easy. At 2h 27m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Adel, IA to Marion, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Greene Street
290th Street
I-35 north
US 6 West
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
Northeast Hubbell Road
Lincoln Highway
73rd Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Greene Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Adel, IA and Marion, IA.

1

Start on Nile Kinnick Drive South

16 ft · 8 sec · Nile Kinnick Drive South
2

Turn left onto Greene Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Greene Street
3

Continue on 290th Street

12 mi · 17 min · 290th Street
4

Turn left onto I-35 north, I-80 east

0.3 mi · 38 sec · I-35 north, I-80 east
5

Merge slight left

10 mi · 11 min
6

Continue straight

0.7 mi · 51 sec
7

Continue straight

0.6 mi · 41 sec
8

Keep slight left

4.5 mi · 5 min
9

Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
10

Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue

1.2 mi · 1 min · Northeast Hubbell Avenue
11

Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road

33 mi · 39 min · Northeast Hubbell Road
12

Take the exit right

0.5 mi · 1 min
13

Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway

37 mi · 42 min · Lincoln Highway
14

Continue on 73rd Street

27 mi · 30 min · 73rd Street
15

Take the exit slight right toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion

1.0 mi · 1 min · IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
16

Continue straight

9.4 mi · 11 min
17

Keep slight right to continue on Collins Road Northeast

1.8 mi · 2 min · Collins Road Northeast
18

Turn left onto 1st Avenue East

0.1 mi · 22 sec · 1st Avenue East
19

Continue on Marion Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · Marion Boulevard
20

Continue on 7th Avenue

0.3 mi · 46 sec · 7th Avenue
21

Turn left onto 6th Street

315 ft · 18 sec · 6th Street
22

Turn right onto 8th Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · 8th Avenue
23

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 71 miles from Adel, IA, or about 1h 13m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 31 miles or 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 71 miles or 1h 13m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marion, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Adel, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Adel, IA

This is one driving day of about 142 miles and 2h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Adel, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 71 mi from Adel, IA · 1h 13m into the drive

city and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marshalltown, IA

71 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Des Moines, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marshalltown, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 71 miles from Adel, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Marion, IA

The final approach into Marion, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Marion, IA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.20 one way

$44.40 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $24.37 $48.75
premium $4.89 $27.33 $54.65
diesel $5.61 $31.35 $62.70

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 49.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42.6 0 $14.91 $6.82
Efficient EV 35.5 0 $12.42 $5.68
EV Truck/SUV 56.8 0 $19.88 $9.09

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Adel, IA

Morning in Adel on Friday

Local time

6:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Marion, IA

Morning in Marion on Friday

Local time

6:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

3 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 27m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Adel, IA to Marion, IA covers 142 miles and takes about 2h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Greene Street, 290th Street, I-35 north. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 71 miles from Adel, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.20 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

The drive from Adel, IA to Marion, IA is easy. At 2h 27m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Adel, IA to Marion, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Adel, IA to Marion, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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