Trip from Marion, IA to Clarinda, IA

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

5h 1m

Distance

250 mi

402 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 48m ★

6 AM

5h 2m

8 AM

5h 29m

10 AM

5h 11m

12 PM

5h 8m

3 PM

5h 13m

5 PM

5h 27m

8 PM

4h 54m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

city in Linn County, Iowa, United States

Marion, IA

Joanna Bogacz

Clarinda, IA

Elizabeth Celestino

Trip Overview

The drive from Marion, IA to Clarinda, IA covers 250 miles and takes about 5h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 80, 630th Street, Lincoln Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.9 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.08 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

125 miles from Marion, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Marion, IA to Clarinda, IA covers 250 miles and takes about 5h 1m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 29 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 67.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 10th Street.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 250 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 151 Business / 7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | 10th Street

Turn left onto 10th Street

Navigation decision point

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 151 Business / 7th Avenue

Turn right onto US 151 Business / 7th Avenue

Navigation decision point

0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in

Enter roundabout

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

112.1 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in | US 65

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

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

130.7 mi into trip | ~2h 35m in | I 80

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 80 West: Omaha

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Marion, IA and Clarinda, IA, road signs point toward Marshalltown, Des Moines and Audubon.

Marshalltown

12.6 mi in | ~16m

Des Moines

77.4 mi in | ~1h 31m

Audubon

193 mi in | ~3h 42m | via US 6

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 80	67.9 mi	1h 13m
630th Street	44.6 mi	1h
Lincoln Highway	37.3 mi	43m
Marshalltown Boulevard	33.7 mi	39m
73rd Street	24.4 mi	28m
US 65	13 mi	15m
Collins Road Northeast	11.2 mi	13m
650th Street	6.5 mi	9m

Longest stretch: I 80 — 67.9 mi, about 1h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on 8th Avenue

445 ft · 22 sec · 8th Avenue

Turn left onto 10th Street

322 ft · 12 sec · 10th Street

Turn right onto US 151 Business

0.2 mi · 21 sec · 7th Avenue

Enter roundabout

103 ft · 4 sec

Continue

130 ft · 5 sec

Continue on 7th Avenue

0.3 mi · 47 sec · 7th Avenue

Continue on US 151 Business

0.6 mi · 1 min · Marion Boulevard

Continue on US 151 Business

0.1 mi · 18 sec · 1st Avenue East

Turn right onto IA 100

11 mi · 13 min · Collins Road Northeast

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown

Merge onto US 30; US 218

2.4 mi · 2 min · 16th Avenue Southwest

Continue on US 30; US 218

24 mi · 28 min · 73rd Street

Continue on US 30

37 mi · 43 min · Lincoln Highway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines

Turn left onto IA 330

34 mi · 39 min · Marshalltown Boulevard

Continue on US 65; IA 330

0.7 mi · 58 sec · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

Take the exit onto US 65

13 mi · 15 min · US 65

Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80; I 35

5.6 mi · 6 min · I 80; I 35

Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80

62 mi · 1 hr 7 min · I 80

Toward I 80 West: Omaha Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 6

0.4 mi · 48 sec · US 6

Toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon

Turn left onto US 6; US 71

6.5 mi · 9 min · 650th Street

Turn right onto US 6; US 71

2.0 mi · 2 min · East 7th Street

Turn left onto US 71

1.7 mi · 2 min · Whitney Street

Continue on US 71

45 mi · 1 hr · 630th Street

Turn right onto US 71 Business

0.9 mi · 1 min · 210 Street

Continue on US 71 Business

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Washington Street

Turn right onto North 16th Street

193 ft · 9 sec · North 16th Street

Turn left

36 ft · 2 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 125 miles from Marion, IA, or about 2h 28m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.9 miles.

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 55 miles or 1h 5m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 125 miles or 2h 28m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarinda, 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 250 miles and 5h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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.

The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 67.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 125 mi from Marion, IA · 2h 28m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Des Moines, IA

125 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

Marshalltown, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Urbandale, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 125 miles from Marion, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.9 miles.

Arriving in Clarinda, IA

The final approach into Clarinda, 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 Clarinda, 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

$39.08 one way

$78.17 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 88 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$42.91	$85.83
premium	$4.89	$48.11	$96.22
diesel	$5.61	$55.20	$110.39

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$39

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$64–$89

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 87.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	75	0	$26.25	$12.00
Efficient EV	62.5	0	$21.88	$10.00
EV Truck/SUV	100	1	$35.00	$16.00

Gas CO2

87 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Evening in Marion on Wednesday

Local time

6:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clarinda, IA

Evening in Clarinda on Wednesday

Local time

6:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°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

26 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

5h 1m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Clarinda, IA covers 250 miles and takes about 5h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 80, 630th Street, Lincoln Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 125 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 $39.08 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.