Origin
Marion, IA
Afternoon in Marion on Sunday
Local time
1:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marion, IA to Iowa City, IA
Drive Time
47m
Distance
33.5 mi
54 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Marion to Iowa City, you are looking at a quick 33.5-mile journey through the heart of the Midwest. Expect to spend about 47 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel cost of just $5, it is an incredibly budget-friendly excursion between these two Iowa communities. You will navigate primarily via 10th Street, 7th Avenue, and local connectors rather than relying on major interstate highways. Because the route is entirely local, it offers a straightforward connection without the complexity of long-haul travel. It is a practical choice for those who prefer avoiding high-speed traffic in favor of a direct, familiar path.
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
16.7 miles from Marion, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive has a distinctively turn-heavy, local personality that keeps you engaged throughout the 33.5-mile transit. Since the highway share is 0%, you won't encounter the monotony of long interstate stretches; instead, the route demands your full attention as you transition between local roads. You will find that there is no single long stretch, with 0 miles spent on 10th Street in a straight line, emphasizing the constant navigation required. The road feel is consistent with regional local driving, prioritizing accessibility over speed. You should prepare for a steady, hands-on driving experience that changes pace frequently as you navigate from Marion to Iowa City.
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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Marion, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 47m 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 Iowa City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 10th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 7th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Marion Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 1st Avenue East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Collins Road Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| C Avenue Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Old Marion Road Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
10th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marion, IA and Iowa City, 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
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Collins Road Northeast
10
Turn left onto C Avenue Northeast
141 ft
·
5 sec
·
C Avenue Northeast
11
Turn slight right onto Old Marion Road Northeast
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Marion Road Northeast
12
Continue on Oakland Road Northeast
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Oakland Road Northeast
13
Turn right onto 29th Street Northeast
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
29th Street Northeast
14
Continue on Coldstream Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Coldstream Avenue Northeast
15
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
16
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
22 mi
·
24 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
17
Take the exit slight right toward I 80
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 80
18
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Davenport
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 80 East: Davenport
19
Merge slight left
4.2 mi
·
4 min
20
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Downtown
21
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Dubuque Street
22
Turn left onto Kimball Road
476 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kimball Road
23
Keep slight right to continue on North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Gilbert Street
24
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 47-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops, as the total distance is manageable in one go without a rest break. Given the $5 fuel estimate, you can easily fill up before you leave Marion and reach your destination with ease. My best advice for this specific route is to stay alert for the frequent turns, as the local road navigation requires more focus than a simple highway cruise. Take advantage of the short travel time to enjoy the journey without the pressure of a long-distance road trip itinerary.
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 16.7 miles from Marion, IA, or about 23m 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 33.5 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16.7 miles or 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Iowa City, 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 33.5 miles and 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Marion, 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 16.7 mi from Marion, IA · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 33.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.7 miles from Marion, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Iowa City, IA
The final approach into Iowa City, 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 Iowa City, 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
$5.09 one way
$10.18 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $5.61 | $11.22 |
| premium | $4.80 | $6.32 | $12.65 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.44 | $14.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10 | 0 | $3.52 | $1.61 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.69 | $2.14 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Afternoon in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
1:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°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
2 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
47m 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 Iowa City, IA covers 33.5 miles and takes about 47m 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 16.7 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 $5.09 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 Marion, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 47m 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 Iowa City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Marion, IA to Iowa City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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