Origin
Marion, IA
Afternoon in Marion on Saturday
Local time
3:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marion, IA to Red Oak, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 55m
Distance
240.2 mi
387 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 42m
★
6 AM
4h 56m
8 AM
5h 23m
10 AM
5h 5m
12 PM
5h 2m
3 PM
5h 6m
5 PM
5h 21m
8 PM
4h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marion, IA
Joanna Bogacz
Red Oak, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Marion, IA to Red Oak, IA covers 240.2 miles and takes about 4h 55m 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 mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.55 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
120.1 miles from Marion, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 27m into the drive .
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 Red Oak, 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
5.6 mi
·
6 min
19
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha
62 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
I 80 West: Omaha
20
Take the exit slight right toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
21
Turn left onto 650th Street
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
650th Street
22
Turn right onto East 7th Street
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
East 7th Street
23
Continue on White Pole Road
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
White Pole Road
24
Continue on West 7th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 7th Street
25
Continue on Southwest 7th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest 7th Street
26
Continue on White Pole Road
8.9 mi
·
13 min
·
White Pole Road
27
Turn left onto 550th Street
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
550th Street
28
Continue on Adair Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Adair Street
29
Continue on 550th Street
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
550th Street
30
Continue on M Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
M Avenue
31
Continue on 110 Street
14 mi
·
20 min
·
110 Street
32
Turn left onto West Hammond Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Hammond Street
33
Turn right onto North 7th Street
299 ft
·
15 sec
·
North 7th Street
34
Turn right onto East Reed Street
328 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Reed Street
35
Arrive at your 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 120.1 miles from Marion, IA, or about 2h 27m 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 53 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.1 miles or 2h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Red Oak, 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 240.2 miles and 4h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
120 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 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 120.1 miles from Marion, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.55 one way
$75.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
84 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $41.23 | $82.46 |
| premium | $4.89 | $46.22 | $92.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.03 | $106.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.1 | 0 | $25.22 | $11.53 |
| Efficient EV | 60.1 | 0 | $21.02 | $9.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.1 | 1 | $33.63 | $15.37 |
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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.
Destination
Red Oak, IA
Afternoon in Red Oak on Saturday
Local time
3:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
27 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
4h 55m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
240.2 mi in 4h 55m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: 10th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 55m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Marion, IA to Red Oak, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 55m. Total distance: 240.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Marion, IA to Red Oak, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Red Oak, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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