Origin
Oelwein, IA
Afternoon in Oelwein on Friday
Local time
4:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oelwein, IA to Marion, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
54.3 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oelwein, IA
Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto
Marion, IA
Joanna Bogacz
Trip Overview
The drive from Oelwein, IA to Marion, IA covers 54.3 miles and takes about 1h 14m 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, Jamestown Avenue, Jackson Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.6 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 54.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 14m drive with frequent turns across 54.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 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 18.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near 10th Street Southeast.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.6 miles (10th Street Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 49.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 49.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
10th Street Southeast
Turn left onto 10th Street Southeast
Navigation decision point
5
49.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
49.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IA 100
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward IA 100
7
50 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
7
50.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Turn left toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 east: Waterloo, Marion
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 east: W...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 18.6 mi | 20m |
| Jamestown Avenue | 14.7 mi | 20m |
| Jackson Avenue | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| 31st Avenue | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Collins Road Northeast | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| 3rd Avenue Southeast | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Palace Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| 5th Avenue Northeast | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 18.6 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oelwein, IA and Marion, IA.
1
Start on South Frederick Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Frederick Avenue
2
Turn left onto 10th Street Southeast
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
10th Street Southeast
3
Turn right onto IA 150
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Rock Island Road
4
Continue on Palace Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Palace Road
5
Continue on IA 150
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Jackson Avenue
6
Continue on IA 150
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street North
7
Continue on IA 150
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Jackson Avenue
8
Continue on IA 150
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Jamestown Avenue
9
Continue on IA 150
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Avenue Northeast
10
Turn right onto IA 150; CR D22
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
1st Street East
11
Turn left onto IA 150
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
3rd Avenue Southeast
12
Continue on Jamestown Avenue
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Jamestown Avenue
13
Continue on IA 150
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
31st Avenue
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
15
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward IA 100
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
Toward IA 100
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
20
Turn left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 east: Waterloo, Marion
Use the straight lane.
21
Merge onto IA 100
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Collins Road Northeast
22
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Collins Road Northeast
23
Turn left onto 1st Avenue East
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
1st Avenue East
24
Continue on Marion Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Marion Boulevard
25
Continue on US 151 Business
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
7th Avenue
26
Turn left onto 6th Street
316 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
27
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
8th Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.1 mi from Oelwein, IA · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.1 miles from Oelwein, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Marion, IA
The final approach into Marion, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.49 one way
$16.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.32 | $18.64 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.45 | $20.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.99 | $23.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.70 | $2.61 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.60 | $3.48 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Marion, IA
Afternoon in Marion on Friday
Local time
4:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
27 mi in
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
17 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
1h 14m 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 Oelwein, IA to Marion, IA covers 54.3 miles and takes about 1h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, Jamestown Avenue, Jackson Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.1 miles from Oelwein, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.49 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.6 miles (10th Street Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 49.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 49.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Oelwein, IA to Marion, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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