Origin
Charles City, IA
Late night in Charles City on Saturday
Local time
1:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charles City, IA to Marion, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
104.7 mi
169 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charles City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Marion, IA
Joanna Bogacz
Trip Overview
The drive from Charles City, IA to Marion, IA covers 104.7 miles and takes about 1h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Brantingham Street, Gilbert Street, South Grand Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.37 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
52.4 miles from Charles City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 104.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m 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 1h 47m drive with frequent turns across 104.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Brantingham 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 Charles City, IA to Marion, IA is easy. At 1h 47m 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 Charles City, IA to Marion, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Brantingham Street | — | — |
| Gilbert Street | — | — |
| South Grand Avenue | — | — |
| Shadow Avenue | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| US 218 south | — | — |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | — | — |
| Washington Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Brantingham Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charles City, IA and Marion, IA.
1
Start on 4th Avenue
30 ft
·
3 sec
·
4th Avenue
2
Continue on Brantingham Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Brantingham Street
3
Turn left onto Gilbert Street
384 ft
·
11 sec
·
Gilbert Street
4
Continue on South Grand Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Grand Avenue
5
Continue on Shadow Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Shadow Avenue
6
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
7
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
41 mi
·
47 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
8
Take the exit slight right toward US 218 south: Waterloo
318 ft
·
8 sec
·
US 218 south: Waterloo
9
Continue on US 218 south: Waterloo
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 218 south: Waterloo
10
Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
11
Continue on Washington Street
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Street
12
Keep slight right to continue on I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
13
Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints
41 mi
·
43 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit slight right toward IA 100
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
IA 100
15
Keep slight left
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
16
Keep slight right to continue on IA 100
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
IA 100
17
Keep slight left to continue on I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
18
Turn left onto I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 east: Waterloo, Marion
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 east: Waterloo, Marion
19
Merge slight left onto Collins Road Northeast
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Collins Road Northeast
20
Keep slight right to continue on Collins Road Northeast
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Collins Road Northeast
21
Turn left onto 1st Avenue East
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
1st Avenue East
22
Continue on Marion Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Marion Boulevard
23
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
7th Avenue
24
Turn left onto 6th Street
315 ft
·
18 sec
·
6th Street
25
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Avenue
26
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 52.4 miles from Charles City, IA, or about 53m 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 23 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.4 miles or 53m 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 27m
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 Charles City, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Charles City, IA
This is one driving day of about 104.7 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Charles City, 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 52.4 mi from Charles City, IA · 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.4 miles from Charles City, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.37 one way
$32.74 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.97 | $35.94 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.15 | $40.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.12 | $46.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.4 | 0 | $10.99 | $5.03 |
| Efficient EV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.16 | $4.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.9 | 0 | $14.66 | $6.70 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Late night in Marion on Saturday
Local time
1:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
52 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 47m 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 Charles City, IA to Marion, IA covers 104.7 miles and takes about 1h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Brantingham Street, Gilbert Street, South Grand Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.4 miles from Charles City, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.37 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 Charles City, IA to Marion, IA is easy. At 1h 47m 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 Charles City, IA to Marion, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Charles City, IA to Marion, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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