The drive from Indiana, IA to Marion, IA covers 138.6 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, State Highway 14, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.9 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.67 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.3 miles from Indiana, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 138.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 52m highway drive covering 138.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and State Highway 14. The longest continuous stretch is about 73.9 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 73.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 14. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near IA 5.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 138.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 110.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 111.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2 mi into trip|~3m in|IA 5
Turn sharp left onto IA 5
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
110.8 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Take the exit toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
6
111.2 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar...
5
133.7 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward Glass Road, 32nd Street, Coldstream, 29th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.67 one way
$43.34 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.79
$47.58
premium
$4.89
$26.67
$53.34
diesel
$5.61
$30.60
$61.20
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: 48.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.6
0
$14.55
$6.65
Efficient EV
34.7
0
$12.13
$5.54
EV Truck/SUV
55.4
0
$19.40
$8.87
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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
Indiana, IA
Morning
in Indiana on Saturday
Local time
9:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Marion, IA
Morning
in Marion on Saturday
Local time
9:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Belle Plaine, IA
69 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
2h 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 Indiana, IA to Marion, IA covers 138.6 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, State Highway 14, Avenue of the Saints. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.3 miles from Indiana, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.67 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 138.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 110.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 111.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Indiana, IA to Marion, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo along the way.
