Origin
Marshalltown, IA
Afternoon in Marshalltown on Sunday
Local time
1:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marshalltown, IA to Storm Lake, IA
Drive Time
3h 17m
Distance
164.2 mi
264 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
Photo: Paweł Kosmala
Trip Overview
The drive from Marshalltown, IA to Storm Lake, IA covers 164.2 miles and takes about 3h 17m 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 81.3 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.94 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
82.1 miles from Marshalltown, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 3h 17m highway drive covering 164.2 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and Lincoln Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 81.3 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 14 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 81.3 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.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 17m drive. You will face about 11 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 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
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
5
68.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
US 20
Merge onto US 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
149.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m in
|
US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 81.3 mi | 1h 33m |
| Lincoln Highway | 33.3 mi | 38m |
| I 35 | 30.4 mi | 32m |
| US 71 | 11.3 mi | 15m |
| US 71 Business | 3.1 mi | 7m |
| South Center Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| North 3rd Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Anson Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 81.3 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marshalltown, IA and Storm Lake, 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
81 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
US 20
Use the none lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 71
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 71
Toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm Lake
11
Turn right onto US 71
11 mi
·
14 min
·
US 71
12
Turn left onto US 71 Business; IA 7
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
US 71 Business; IA 7
13
Continue on Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Grand Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Grand 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 82.1 miles from Marshalltown, IA, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.3 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.1 miles or 1h 35m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Storm Lake, 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 164.2 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 81.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.1 mi from Marshalltown, IA · 1h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 82.1 miles from Marshalltown, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81.3 miles.
Arriving in Storm Lake, IA
The final approach into Storm Lake, 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 Storm Lake, 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
$24.94 one way
$49.88 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $27.49 | $54.99 |
| premium | $4.80 | $31.00 | $62.00 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $36.48 | $72.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.3 | 0 | $17.24 | $7.88 |
| Efficient EV | 41.1 | 0 | $14.37 | $6.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.7 | 0 | $22.99 | $10.51 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Storm Lake, IA
Afternoon in Storm Lake on Sunday
Local time
1:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°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
3 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
3h 17m 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 Storm Lake, IA covers 164.2 miles and takes about 3h 17m 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 82.1 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 $24.94 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 is a straightforward 3h 17m drive. You will face about 11 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 Storm Lake, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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