Origin
Altoona, IA
Afternoon in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
12:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Altoona, IA to Marion, IA
Drive Time
1h 55m
Distance
113 mi
182 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
Photo: Joanna Bogacz
Trip Overview
The drive from Altoona, IA to Marion, IA covers 113 miles and takes about 1h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 1st Avenue North, Northeast 72nd Street, Grant Street South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.16 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
56.5 miles from Altoona, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 55m drive with frequent turns across 113 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
1st Avenue North 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Altoona, IA to Marion, IA is easy. At 1h 55m 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 Altoona, IA to Marion, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Avenue North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast 72nd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grant Street South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Hubbell Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lincoln Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 73rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IA 100 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Collins Road Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
1st Avenue North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, IA and Marion, IA.
1
Start on 1st Avenue South
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue South
2
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 1st Avenue North
108 ft
·
2 sec
·
1st Avenue North
3
Exit the roundabout onto 1st Avenue North
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue North
4
Continue on Northeast 72nd Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Northeast 72nd Street
5
Continue on Grant Street South
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Grant Street South
6
Continue on Grant Street South
135 ft
·
8 sec
·
Grant Street South
7
Turn right onto Northeast Hubbell Road
32 mi
·
37 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
8
Take the exit right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
9
Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway
37 mi
·
42 min
·
Lincoln Highway
10
Continue on 73rd Street
27 mi
·
30 min
·
73rd Street
11
Take the exit slight right toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
12
Continue straight
9.4 mi
·
11 min
13
Keep slight right to continue on Collins Road Northeast
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Collins Road Northeast
14
Turn left onto 1st Avenue East
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
1st Avenue East
15
Continue on Marion Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Marion Boulevard
16
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
7th Avenue
17
Turn left onto 6th Street
315 ft
·
18 sec
·
6th Street
18
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Avenue
19
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 56.5 miles from Altoona, IA, or about 57m 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 80 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.5 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 34m
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 Altoona, 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 Altoona, IA
This is one driving day of about 113 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Altoona, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.5 mi from Altoona, IA · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.5 miles from Altoona, 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
$17.16 one way
$34.33 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $18.92 | $37.84 |
| premium | $4.80 | $21.33 | $42.66 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $25.10 | $50.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.9 | 0 | $11.86 | $5.42 |
| Efficient EV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.89 | $4.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.2 | 0 | $15.82 | $7.23 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Marion, IA
Afternoon in Marion on Sunday
Local time
12:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
57 mi in
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
1 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
1h 55m 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 Altoona, IA to Marion, IA covers 113 miles and takes about 1h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 1st Avenue North, Northeast 72nd Street, Grant Street South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.5 miles from Altoona, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.16 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 Altoona, IA to Marion, IA is easy. At 1h 55m 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 Altoona, IA to Marion, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Altoona, IA to Marion, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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