Origin
Independence, IA
Late night in Independence on Friday
Local time
2:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Independence, IA to Marion, IA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
49m
Distance
38.8 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, IA
Roger Ce
Marion, IA
Joanna Bogacz
Trip Overview
The drive from Independence, IA to Marion, IA covers 38.8 miles and takes about 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 1st Street East, 3rd Avenue Southeast, Jamestown Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.07 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 38.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 49m drive with frequent turns across 38.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
1st Street East 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 Independence, IA to Marion, IA is easy. At 49m 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 Independence, IA to Marion, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Street East | — | — |
| 3rd Avenue Southeast | — | — |
| Jamestown Avenue | — | — |
| 31st Avenue | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| IA 100 | — | — |
| I-380 south | — | — |
| I-380 north | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
1st Street East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, IA and Marion, IA.
1
Start on 5th Avenue Southeast
43 ft
·
9 sec
·
5th Avenue Southeast
2
Turn left onto 1st Street East
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
1st Street East
3
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue Southeast
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
3rd Avenue Southeast
4
Continue on Jamestown Avenue
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Jamestown Avenue
5
Continue on 31st Avenue
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
31st Avenue
6
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
7
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
8
Take the exit slight right toward IA 100
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
IA 100
9
Keep slight left
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
10
Keep slight right to continue on IA 100
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
IA 100
11
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
12
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
13
Merge slight left onto Collins Road Northeast
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Collins Road Northeast
14
Keep slight right to continue on Collins Road Northeast
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Collins Road Northeast
15
Turn left onto 1st Avenue East
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
1st Avenue East
16
Continue on Marion Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Marion Boulevard
17
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
7th Avenue
18
Turn left onto 6th Street
315 ft
·
18 sec
·
6th Street
19
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Avenue
20
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.4 mi from Independence, IA · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.4 miles from Independence, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Marion, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Marion, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.07 one way
$12.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.66 | $13.32 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.47 | $14.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.57 | $17.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.07 | $1.86 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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 Friday
Local time
2:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 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
49m 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 Independence, IA to Marion, IA covers 38.8 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 1st Street East, 3rd Avenue Southeast, Jamestown Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.4 miles from Independence, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.07 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 Independence, IA to Marion, IA is easy. At 49m 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 Independence, IA to Marion, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Independence, IA to Marion, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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