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Trip from Marion, IA to Adel, IA

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

2h 52m

Distance

141.9 mi

228 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 41m ★
6 AM
2h 52m
8 AM
3h 15m
10 AM
3h 0m
12 PM
2h 58m
3 PM
3h 1m
5 PM
3h 13m
8 PM
2h 46m

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

city in Linn County, Iowa, United States

Marion, IA

Joanna Bogacz

city in Iowa, United States

Adel, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Marion, IA to Adel, IA covers 141.9 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 10th Street, 7th Avenue, the route for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.18 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

71 miles from Marion, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 141.9 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 (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 52m drive with frequent turns across 141.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
10th Street 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 Marion, IA to Adel, IA is easy. At 2h 52m 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 Marion, IA to Adel, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
10th Street
7th Avenue
the route
Marion Boulevard
1st Avenue East
Collins Road Northeast
US 30 West
16th Avenue Southwest

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: 10th Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 8th Avenue

446 ft · 23 sec · 8th Avenue
2

Turn left onto 10th Street

322 ft · 13 sec · 10th Street
3

Turn right onto 7th Avenue

0.2 mi · 22 sec · 7th Avenue
4

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

102 ft · 4 sec · the route
5

Exit the roundabout

131 ft · 6 sec
6

Continue on 7th Avenue

0.3 mi · 48 sec · 7th Avenue
7

Continue on Marion Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · Marion Boulevard
8

Continue on 1st Avenue East

0.1 mi · 19 sec · 1st Avenue East
9

Turn right onto Collins Road Northeast

11 mi · 13 min · Collins Road Northeast
10

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

0.7 mi · 1 min · US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
11

Merge slight left onto 16th Avenue Southwest

2.4 mi · 2 min · 16th Avenue Southwest
12

Continue on 73rd Street

24 mi · 28 min · 73rd Street
13

Continue on Lincoln Highway

37 mi · 43 min · Lincoln Highway
14

Take the exit slight right toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines

0.3 mi · 46 sec · IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
15

Turn left onto Marshalltown Boulevard

34 mi · 39 min · Marshalltown Boulevard
16

Continue on Northeast Hubbell Avenue

0.7 mi · 58 sec · Northeast Hubbell Avenue
17

Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

13 mi · 15 min · I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
18

Continue straight

4.0 mi · 4 min
19

Take the exit slight right toward US 6: Hickman Road, Adel

0.4 mi · 49 sec · US 6: Hickman Road, Adel
20

Turn right onto Hickman Road

9.4 mi · 13 min · Hickman Road
21

Continue on 290th Street

2.4 mi · 2 min · 290th Street
22

Continue on Greene Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Greene Street
23

Turn right onto Nile Kinnick Drive South

16 ft · 1 sec · Nile Kinnick Drive South
24

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71 miles from Marion, IA, or about 1h 26m 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 31 miles or 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 71 miles or 1h 26m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 21m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Marion, 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 Marion, IA

This is one driving day of about 141.9 miles and 2h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Marion, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 71 mi from Marion, IA · 1h 26m into the drive

city and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marshalltown, IA

71 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 Rapids, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marshalltown, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 71 miles from Marion, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Adel, IA

The final approach into Adel, 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 Adel, 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

$22.18 one way

$44.37 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $24.36 $48.72
premium $4.89 $27.31 $54.61
diesel $5.61 $31.33 $62.66

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: 49.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42.6 0 $14.90 $6.81
Efficient EV 35.5 0 $12.42 $5.68
EV Truck/SUV 56.8 0 $19.87 $9.08

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 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

Marion, IA

Late night in Marion on Friday

Local time

2:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Adel, IA

Late night in Adel on Friday

Local time

2:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

52°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

3 degrees warmer 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 Marion, IA to Adel, IA covers 141.9 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 10th Street, 7th Avenue, the route. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 71 miles from Marion, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.18 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.

The drive from Marion, IA to Adel, IA is easy. At 2h 52m 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 Marion, IA to Adel, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Marion, IA to Adel, 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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