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Trip from Clinton, 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 52m

Distance

84.2 mi

136 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 45m ★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 59m
12 PM
1h 57m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 9m
8 PM
1h 48m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in, and the county seat of, Clinton County, Iowa, United States

Clinton, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Linn County, Iowa, United States

Marion, IA

Joanna Bogacz

Trip Overview

The drive from Clinton, IA to Marion, IA covers 84.2 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 30, Lincoln Way, US 151 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.6 miles on US 30. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.16 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.

Midpoint

42.1 miles from Clinton, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 84.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (72%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 52m highway drive covering 84.2 miles, with most of the trip on US 30 and Lincoln Way. The longest continuous stretch is about 53.6 miles on US 30.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 30 is the longest continuous segment at about 53.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 30 and Lincoln Way. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in near US 30 / Lincoln Way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 52m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles (US 30 / Lincoln Way): Navigation decision point; at 73.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.5 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
3.9 mi into trip | ~7m in | US 30 / Lincoln Way

Turn right onto US 30 / Lincoln Way

Navigation decision point

5
73.8 mi into trip | ~1h 37m in

Take the exit toward US 151 North, IA 13 North: Marion

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 151 North, IA 13 North: Marion
4
83.5 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in | 7th Avenue

Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

4
84 mi into trip | ~1h 52m in | 14th Street

Turn right onto 14th Street

Navigation decision point

5
84.1 mi into trip | ~1h 52m in | 8th Avenue

Turn left onto 8th Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 30 53.6 mi 1h 10m
Lincoln Way 16.3 mi 19m
US 151 7.5 mi 9m
Manufacturing Drive 1.6 mi 2m
South Bluff Boulevard 1.4 mi 2m
10th Avenue 1.3 mi 2m
7th Avenue 1.1 mi 2m
2nd Avenue South 0.9 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 30 — 53.6 mi, about 1h 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 2nd Avenue South

0.9 mi · 2 min · 2nd Avenue South
2

Turn left onto South Bluff Boulevard

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Bluff Boulevard
3

Turn straight onto Manufacturing Drive

1.6 mi · 2 min · Manufacturing Drive
4

Turn right onto US 30

16 mi · 19 min · Lincoln Way
5

Take the exit onto US 30

1.4 mi · 1 min · US 30
6

Take the exit onto US 30

52 mi · 1 hr 9 min · US 30
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Toward US 151 North, IA 13 North: Marion
8

Continue on US 151; IA 13

7.5 mi · 9 min · US 151; IA 13
9

Turn left onto US 151 Business

1.3 mi · 2 min · 10th Avenue
10

Continue on US 151 Business

0.5 mi · 1 min · 7th Avenue
11

Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue

15 ft · 0 sec · 7th Avenue
12

Continue on 7th Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · 7th Avenue
13

Turn right onto 14th Street

315 ft · 21 sec · 14th Street
14

Turn left onto 8th Avenue

0.2 mi · 30 sec · 8th Avenue
15

Arrive at destination

8th Avenue

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 42.1 miles from Clinton, IA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.6 miles.

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 19 miles or 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 42.1 miles or 55m 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 Clinton, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Clinton, IA

This is one driving day of about 84.2 miles and 1h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Clinton, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 30 for about 53.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 42.1 mi from Clinton, IA · 55m into the drive

Downtown Tipton, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tipton, IA

42 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

De Witt, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tipton, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.1 miles from Clinton, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Eva's Mexican Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Marion, Iowa

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 84.2

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13193207702

Visit website

Candlelight Inn Restaurant - Clinton Iowa

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Clinton, Iowa

0.4 mi

Napoli's Italian Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Marion, Iowa

1 mi

Eva's Mexican Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 84.2

Marion, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13193207702

Visit website

Candlelight Inn Restaurant - Clinton Iowa

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Clinton, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15632433200

Visit website

Napoli's Italian Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30 mile 84.2

Marion, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193772100

Visit website

Persis Biryani Indian Grill

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 84.2

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13198262000

Visit website

Rio Burritos

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately mile 84.2

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9:15 pm

+13199815001

Visit website

Ditto's Family Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 54.2

Stanwood, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+15639426618

Visit website

The RailYard Restaurant & Bar

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30 mile 42.1

Lowden, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15639417307

Visit website

HuHot Mongolian Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 84.2

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193936000

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 78.2

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

+18006360986

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 84.2

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.16 one way

$26.33 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.45 $28.91
premium $4.89 $16.20 $32.41
diesel $5.61 $18.59 $37.18

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.3 0 $8.84 $4.04
Efficient EV 21.1 0 $7.37 $3.37
EV Truck/SUV 33.7 0 $11.79 $5.39

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 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 15, 2026

Origin

Clinton, IA

Night in Clinton on Friday

Local time

11:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Marion, IA

Night in Marion on Friday

Local time

11:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

71°F

Tipton, IA

42 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

22 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 52m 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 Clinton, IA to Marion, IA covers 84.2 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 30, Lincoln Way, US 151. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 42.1 miles from Clinton, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.16 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.

This is a straightforward 1h 52m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles (US 30 / Lincoln Way): Navigation decision point; at 73.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.5 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

The route from Clinton, 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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