Origin
Marion, IA
Night in Marion on Thursday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marion, IA to Sioux Center, IA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
5h 54m
Distance
293.1 mi
472 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 42m
★
6 AM
5h 55m
8 AM
6h 21m
10 AM
6h 4m
12 PM
6h 1m
3 PM
6h 5m
5 PM
6h 20m
8 PM
5h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marion, IA
Joanna Bogacz
Sioux Center, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Marion, IA to Sioux Center, IA covers 293.1 miles and takes about 5h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, Highway 20, State Highway 140 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 206.9 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.82 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
146.6 miles from Marion, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 49m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 54m. Total distance: 293.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (14%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 54m drive with frequent turns across 293.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 206.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 293.1 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 pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
10th Street
Turn left onto 10th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 151 Business / 7th Avenue
Turn right onto US 151 Business / 7th Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
3.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
6
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I-380 north, IA 27 north: Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north: Waterloo
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 206.9 mi | 3h 55m |
| Highway 20 | 19 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 140 | 15.1 mi | 20m |
| 450th Street | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| County Road L14 | 7 mi | 9m |
| 160th Street | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| US 75 | 5.8 mi | 9m |
| Lee Avenue | 5.4 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 206.9 mi, about 3h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marion, IA and Sioux Center, IA.
1
Start on 8th Avenue
445 ft
·
22 sec
·
8th Avenue
2
Turn left onto 10th Street
322 ft
·
12 sec
·
10th Street
3
Turn right onto US 151 Business
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
7th Avenue
4
Enter roundabout
103 ft
·
4 sec
5
Continue
130 ft
·
5 sec
6
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
7th Avenue
7
Continue on US 151 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Marion Boulevard
8
Continue on US 151 Business
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
1st Avenue East
9
Turn right onto IA 100
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Collins Road Northeast
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north: Waterloo
12
Keep slight left at fork
286 ft
·
7 sec
13
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
this road
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Waterloo
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
47 mi
·
50 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
160 mi
·
3 hr 4 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
16
Continue on US 20
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
160th Street
17
Continue on US 20
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
United States Highway 20
18
Continue on US 20
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Highway 20
19
Turn right onto L21
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Lee Avenue
20
Continue on Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Shamrock Avenue
21
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
320th Street
22
Turn right onto IA 140
15 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 140
23
Continue on L14
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road L14
24
Continue on L14
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Kiwi Avenue
25
At end of road, turn left onto IA 10
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
460th Street
26
Continue on IA 10
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
State Highway 10
27
Continue on IA 10
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Kennedy Avenue
28
Turn left onto IA 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
450th Street
29
Enter roundabout onto 450th Street
81 ft
·
4 sec
·
450th Street
30
Continue on 450th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
450th Street
31
Continue on IA 10
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street Southeast
32
Continue on IA 10
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Highway 10 West
33
Continue on IA 10
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
450th Street
34
Turn right onto US 75
5.8 mi
·
9 min
·
US 75
35
Arrive at destination
US 75
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 146.6 miles from Marion, IA, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 206.9 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 64 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.6 miles or 2h 49m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sioux Center, 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 293.1 miles and 5h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 206.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 146.6 mi from Marion, IA · 2h 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
147 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 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 146.6 miles from Marion, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 206.9 miles.
Arriving in Sioux Center, IA
The final approach into Sioux Center, 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 Sioux Center, IA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.82 one way
$91.65 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
103 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $50.31 | $100.62 |
| premium | $4.89 | $56.40 | $112.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $64.71 | $129.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.9 | 1 | $30.78 | $14.07 |
| Efficient EV | 73.3 | 0 | $25.65 | $11.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 117.2 | 1 | $41.03 | $18.76 |
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Sioux Center, IA
Night in Sioux Center on Thursday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Nevada, IA
147 mi in
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
5h 54m 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 Sioux Center, IA covers 293.1 miles and takes about 5h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, Highway 20, State Highway 140. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 146.6 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 $45.82 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 293.1 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.
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.
The route from Marion, IA to Sioux Center, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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