Trip from Iowa City, IA to Marshalltown, IA

Drive Time

1h 37m

Distance

92.2 mi

148 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

Connecting Iowa City to Marshalltown, this 92.2-mile journey takes approximately 1 hour and 37 minutes to complete. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You will navigate using a combination of local routes, including Kimball Road and North Dubuque Street, before transitioning onto I-380. Budgeting roughly $14 for fuel will cover your transit across the heart of the Midwest. Since both cities are located within Iowa, you can expect a familiar regional atmosphere throughout the entire drive.

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

46.1 miles from Iowa City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With a 0% highway share, this route relies entirely on local roads, meaning you won't find long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed travel. In fact, the longest segment you will encounter is 0 miles on Kimball Road, highlighting the frequent adjustments required behind the wheel. The character of the road is technical and requires constant navigation through turns. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local landscape from start to finish.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Kimball Road 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 Iowa City, IA to Marshalltown, IA is easy. At 1h 37m 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 Iowa City, IA to Marshalltown, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Kimball Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
North Dubuque Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 380	Unavailable	Refreshing
Avenue of the Saints	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 30 West	Unavailable	Refreshing
Lincoln Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
South Center Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
East Anson Street	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Kimball Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Marshalltown, IA.

1

Start on South Gilbert Street

0.8 mi · 2 min · South Gilbert Street

2

Turn slight left onto Kimball Road

476 ft · 22 sec · Kimball Road

3

Turn right onto North Dubuque Street

1.2 mi · 3 min · North Dubuque Street

4

Turn left

0.4 mi · 59 sec

5

Merge slight left

4.1 mi · 4 min

6

Take the exit slight right toward I 380, US 218, IA 27

0.4 mi · 45 sec · I 380, US 218, IA 27

7

Keep slight right to continue on I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo

8

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

16 mi · 17 min · Avenue of the Saints

9

Take the exit slight right toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama

34 mi · 39 min · US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama

10

Continue on Lincoln Highway

32 mi · 36 min · Lincoln Highway

11

Take the exit slight right

0.4 mi · 48 sec

12

Turn right onto South Center Street

2.3 mi · 3 min · South Center Street

13

Turn right onto East Anson Street

0.3 mi · 30 sec · East Anson Street

14

Turn left onto South 3rd Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · South 3rd Avenue

15

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Given the 1 hour and 37-minute duration, you have significant flexibility to depart whenever it suits your schedule. You won't need to plan for formal stops, as the trip is short enough to drive in one go without a break. Since this is a turn-heavy route, ensure your GPS is clearly visible so you can anticipate the frequent transitions between local roads. Fill your tank before leaving Iowa City to keep your $14 fuel budget on track. Embracing the lack of highway miles allows you to move at a steady, local pace without the stress of high-speed traffic.

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 46.1 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 48m 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 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 46.1 miles or 48m 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 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marshalltown, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Iowa City, 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 Iowa City, IA

This is one driving day of about 92.2 miles and 1h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Iowa City, 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 46.1 mi from Iowa City, IA · 48m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cedar Rapids, IA

46 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

Cedar Falls, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cedar Rapids, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 46.1 miles from Iowa City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Marshalltown, IA

The final approach into Marshalltown, 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 Marshalltown, 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

$14.00 one way

$28.01 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$15.44	$30.88
premium	$4.80	$17.41	$34.81
diesel	$5.64	$20.48	$40.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	27.7	$9.68	$4.43
Efficient EV	23.1	$8.07	$3.69
EV Truck/SUV	36.9	$12.91	$5.90

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Iowa City, IA

Afternoon in Iowa City on Sunday

Local time

1:22 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Marshalltown, IA

Afternoon in Marshalltown on Sunday

Local time

1:22 PM

CDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

4 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 37m 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 Iowa City, IA to Marshalltown, IA covers 92.2 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Kimball Road, North Dubuque Street, I 380. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 46.1 miles from Iowa City, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.00 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 Iowa City, IA to Marshalltown, IA is easy. At 1h 37m 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 Iowa City, IA to Marshalltown, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Iowa City, IA to Marshalltown, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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