Origin
Marshalltown, IA
Evening in Marshalltown on Friday
Local time
5:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marshalltown, IA to Burlington, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 15m
Distance
167.1 mi
269 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 4m
★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 40m
10 AM
3h 24m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 25m
5 PM
3h 38m
8 PM
3h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marshalltown, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Burlington, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Marshalltown, IA to Burlington, IA covers 167.1 miles and takes about 3h 15m 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, 73rd Street, Lincoln Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 70.1 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.12 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
83.5 miles from Marshalltown, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 167.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 15m drive with frequent turns across 167.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 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 70.1 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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near IA 14 / East Anson Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 167.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.8 miles (IA 14 / East Anson Street): Navigation decision point; at 68.7 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.2 miles (US 34; IA 163): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IA 14 / East Anson Street
Turn right onto IA 14 / East Anson Street
Navigation decision point
5
68.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
US 218
Take the exit onto US 218 toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South: Iowa City, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South:...
6
139.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m in
|
US 34; IA 163
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163 toward US 34 East, 163 East: Mount Pleasant, Burlington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 42
Toward US 34 East, 163 East: Mount Pleasant, Bu...
7
139.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 42m in
|
US 34; IA 163
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163 toward US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 42
Toward US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
5
166.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 14m in
Take the exit toward Central Ave
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 262B
Toward Central Ave
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Marshalltown, IA and Burlington, IA, road signs point toward Airport and 163 East: Mount Pleasant.
Airport
68.7 mi in
|
~1h 21m
|
via US 218
163 East: Mount Pleasant
139.2 mi in
|
~2h 41m
|
via US 34; IA 163
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 70.1 mi | 1h 19m |
| 73rd Street | 33.4 mi | 38m |
| Lincoln Highway | 31.5 mi | 36m |
| US 34 | 27 mi | 32m |
| South Center Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| North 3rd Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Central Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| US 218 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 70.1 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marshalltown, IA and Burlington, IA.
1
Start on IA 14
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North 3rd Avenue
2
Turn right onto IA 14
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
East Anson Street
3
Turn left onto IA 14
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
South Center Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
5
Merge onto US 30
31 mi
·
36 min
·
Lincoln Highway
6
Continue on US 30
33 mi
·
38 min
·
73rd Street
7
Take the exit onto US 218
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 218
Toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South: Iowa City, Airport
8
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
67 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 218; IA 27
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 34; IA 163
Exit 42
Toward US 34 East, 163 East: Mount Pleasant, Burlington
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163
27 mi
·
31 min
·
US 34; IA 163
Exit 42
Toward US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 262B
Toward Central Ave
13
Turn right onto North Central Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Central Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
South Central Avenue
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 83.5 miles from Marshalltown, IA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.1 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 37 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.5 miles or 1h 38m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burlington, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Marshalltown, 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 Marshalltown, IA
This is one driving day of about 167.1 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Marshalltown, 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 70.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.5 mi from Marshalltown, IA · 1h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 83.5 miles from Marshalltown, 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 70.1 miles.
Arriving in Burlington, IA
The final approach into Burlington, 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 Burlington, 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
$26.12 one way
$52.25 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.68 | $57.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.16 | $64.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.89 | $73.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.1 | 0 | $17.55 | $8.02 |
| Efficient EV | 41.8 | 0 | $14.62 | $6.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.8 | 0 | $23.39 | $10.69 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Burlington, IA
Evening in Burlington on Friday
Local time
5:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°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
15 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 15m 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 Marshalltown, IA to Burlington, IA covers 167.1 miles and takes about 3h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, 73rd Street, Lincoln Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83.5 miles from Marshalltown, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.12 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 167.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.8 miles (IA 14 / East Anson Street): Navigation decision point; at 68.7 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.2 miles (US 34; IA 163): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Marshalltown, IA and Burlington, IA, road signs point toward Airport and 163 East: Mount Pleasant.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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