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Trip from Iowa Falls, IA to Marion, IA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 46m

Distance

105.5 mi

170 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 39m ★
6 AM
1h 46m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 50m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 1m
8 PM
1h 42m

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

city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States

Iowa Falls, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Linn County, Iowa, United States

Marion, IA

Joanna Bogacz

Trip Overview

The drive from Iowa Falls, IA to Marion, IA covers 105.5 miles and takes about 1h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East Rocksylvania Avenue, Oak Street, US 20 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.49 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

52.8 miles from Iowa Falls, 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 46m. Total distance: 105.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 46m 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 46m drive with frequent turns across 105.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Rocksylvania Avenue 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 Iowa Falls, IA to Marion, IA is easy. At 1h 46m 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 Falls, IA to Marion, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Rocksylvania Avenue
Oak Street
US 20 East
Avenue of the Saints
IA 100
I-380 south
I-380 north
Collins Road Northeast

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: East Rocksylvania Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Commercial Street

331 ft · 11 sec · Commercial Street
2

Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Rocksylvania Avenue
3

Turn left onto Oak Street

5.1 mi · 8 min · Oak Street
4

Take the ramp left toward US 20 East

0.4 mi · 53 sec · US 20 East
5

Merge slight left

56 mi · 1 hr 4 min
6

Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints

41 mi · 43 min · Avenue of the Saints
7

Take the exit slight right toward IA 100

0.2 mi · 31 sec · IA 100
8

Keep slight left

0.2 mi · 20 sec
9

Keep slight right to continue on IA 100

0.3 mi · 28 sec · IA 100
10

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
11

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
12

Merge slight left onto Collins Road Northeast

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Collins Road Northeast
13

Keep slight right to continue on Collins Road Northeast

1.8 mi · 2 min · Collins Road Northeast
14

Turn left onto 1st Avenue East

0.1 mi · 22 sec · 1st Avenue East
15

Continue on Marion Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · Marion Boulevard
16

Continue on 7th Avenue

0.3 mi · 46 sec · 7th Avenue
17

Turn left onto 6th Street

315 ft · 18 sec · 6th Street
18

Turn right onto 8th Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · 8th Avenue
19

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 52.8 miles from Iowa Falls, 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 52.8 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 Iowa Falls, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Iowa Falls, IA

This is one driving day of about 105.5 miles and 1h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Iowa Falls, 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 52.8 mi from Iowa Falls, IA · 53m into the drive

Downtown Elk Run Heights, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Elk Run Heights, IA

53 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

Aplington, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elk Run Heights, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 52.8 miles from Iowa Falls, 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

$16.49 one way

$32.99 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 37 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $18.11 $36.22
premium $4.89 $20.30 $40.61
diesel $5.61 $23.29 $46.59

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: 36.9 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 31.7 0 $11.08 $5.06
Efficient EV 26.4 0 $9.23 $4.22
EV Truck/SUV 42.2 0 $14.77 $6.75

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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Iowa Falls, IA

Afternoon in Iowa Falls on Thursday

Local time

4:07 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Marion, IA

Afternoon in Marion on Thursday

Local time

4:07 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°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

1 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 46m 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 Falls, IA to Marion, IA covers 105.5 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Rocksylvania Avenue, Oak Street, US 20 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.8 miles from Iowa Falls, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.49 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 Falls, IA to Marion, IA is easy. At 1h 46m 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 Falls, IA to Marion, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Iowa Falls, IA to Marion, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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