The drive from Marshalltown, IA to Le Mars, IA covers 224.8 miles and takes about 4h 30m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, Lincoln Highway, I 35 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 121.1 miles on US 20.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.14 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
112.4 miles from Marshalltown, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 224.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 4h 30m highway drive covering 224.8 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and Lincoln Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 121.1 miles on US 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 121.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Lincoln Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near IA 14 / East Anson Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 30m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (IA 14 / East Anson Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (IA 14 / South Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 37 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These 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
4
1 mi into trip|~1m in|IA 14 / South Center Street
Turn left onto IA 14 / South Center Street
Navigation decision point
4
37 mi into trip|~45m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
4
68 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
4
189.4 mi into trip|~3h 41m in|L21 / Lee Avenue
Turn right onto L21 / Lee Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
121.1 mi
2h 21m
Lincoln Highway
33.3 mi
38m
I 35
30.4 mi
32m
State Highway 140
11 mi
15m
Lee Avenue
5.4 mi
7m
State Highway 3
4.7 mi
6m
County Road K64
4 mi
5m
C38
3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 121.1 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marshalltown, IA and Le Mars, 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
2.3 mi·3 min·South Center Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
5
Merge onto US 30
33 mi·38 min·Lincoln Highway
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
7
Merge onto I 35
30 mi·32 min·I 35
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
9
Merge onto US 20
121 mi·2 hr 21 min·US 20
10
Turn right onto L21
5.4 mi·7 min·Lee Avenue
11
Continue on Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi·2 min·Shamrock Avenue
12
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi·2 min·320th Street
13
Turn right onto IA 140
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 140
14
Turn left onto CR C38
2.0 mi·2 min·CR C38
15
Continue on CR C38
2.0 mi·2 min·210th Street
16
Continue on CR C38
1.0 mi·1 min·CR C38
17
Turn right onto County Road K64
4.0 mi·5 min·County Road K64
18
Turn left onto IA 3
4.7 mi·6 min·State Highway 3
19
Continue on IA 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Lincoln Street Northeast
20
Continue on IA 3
0.1 mi·18 sec·5th Avenue Northeast
21
Turn right onto 1st Street Northeast
0.3 mi·58 sec·1st Street Northeast
22
Arrive at destination
1st Street Northeast
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 112.4 miles from Marshalltown, IA, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.1 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 49 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.4 miles or 2h 11m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Le Mars, 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 224.8 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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 US 20 for about 121.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 112.4 mi from Marshalltown, IA
· 2h 11m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.4
0
$23.60
$10.79
Efficient EV
56.2
0
$19.67
$8.99
EV Truck/SUV
89.9
1
$31.47
$14.39
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 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
Marshalltown, IA
Morning
in Marshalltown on Friday
Local time
7:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Le Mars, IA
Morning
in Le Mars on Friday
Local time
7:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
18 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
4h 30m 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 Marshalltown, IA to Le Mars, IA covers 224.8 miles and takes about 4h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, Lincoln Highway, I 35. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 112.4 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 $35.14 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 is a straightforward 4h 30m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (IA 14 / East Anson Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (IA 14 / South Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 37 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Marshalltown, IA to Le Mars, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
