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Trip from Ottumwa, IA to Marshalltown, IA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

2h 8m

Distance

95.3 mi

153 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 59m ★
6 AM
2h 8m
8 AM
2h 26m
10 AM
2h 14m
12 PM
2h 13m
3 PM
2h 15m
5 PM
2h 25m
8 PM
2h 3m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Ottumwa, IA, IA

Ottumwa, IA

Quang Nguyen Vinh

city and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States

Marshalltown, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Ottumwa, IA to Marshalltown, IA covers 95.3 miles and takes about 2h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 63, Highway T14, Reed Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.7 miles on US 63. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.90 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.

Midpoint

47.7 miles from Ottumwa, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 95.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (57%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

The drive from Ottumwa, IA to Marshalltown, IA covers 95.3 miles and takes about 2h 8m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 63 is the longest continuous segment at about 37.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 63 Business; IA 149 / North Wapello Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 8m 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 0.2 miles (US 63 Business; IA 149 / North Wapello Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.1 miles (IA 14 / State Highway 14): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 63 Business; IA 149 / North Wapello Street

Turn right onto US 63 Business; IA 149 / North Wapello Street

Navigation decision point

5
43.2 mi into trip | ~50m in

Take the exit toward Pella Opera House, Pella

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Pella Opera House, Pella
4
79.1 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in | IA 14 / State Highway 14

Turn right onto IA 14 / State Highway 14

Navigation decision point

4
94.3 mi into trip | ~2h 6m in | IA 14 / East Anson Street

Turn right onto IA 14 / East Anson Street

Navigation decision point

4
94.6 mi into trip | ~2h 6m in | IA 14 / South 3rd Avenue

Turn left onto IA 14 / South 3rd Avenue

Navigation decision point

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Ottumwa, IA and Marshalltown, IA, road signs point toward Pella Opera House and Pella.

Pella Opera House

43.2 mi in | ~50m

Pella

43.2 mi in | ~50m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 63 37.7 mi 43m
Highway T14 11.5 mi 15m
Reed Avenue 9 mi 13m
Highway T22 South 7.2 mi 10m
State Highway 224 North 7 mi 10m
Old US Highway 63 4.8 mi 6m
Highway F62 East 3.2 mi 4m
State Highway 14 2.9 mi 4m
Longest stretch: US 63 — 37.7 mi, about 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ottumwa, IA and Marshalltown, IA.

1

Start on West Fourth Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · West Fourth Street
2

Turn right onto US 63 Business; IA 149

395 ft · 5 sec · North Wapello Street
3

Continue on US 63 Business; IA 149

4.8 mi · 6 min · Old US Highway 63
4

Turn left onto US 63 Business

0.3 mi · 42 sec · US 63 Business
5

Merge onto US 63; IA 163

38 mi · 43 min · US 63; IA 163
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward Pella Opera House, Pella
7

Turn right onto South Clark Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Clark Street
8

Turn left onto IA 163 Bus

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Oskaloosa Street
9

Turn slight right onto IA 163 Bus

2.3 mi · 3 min · Main Street
10

Continue on CR T14

11 mi · 15 min · Highway T14
11

Turn right onto CR F62

3.2 mi · 4 min · Highway F62 East
12

Turn left onto CR T22

7.2 mi · 10 min · Highway T22 South
13

Continue on IA 224

2.1 mi · 2 min · County Highway T22
14

Continue on IA 224

0.5 mi · 41 sec · East Street
15

Continue on IA 224

7.0 mi · 10 min · State Highway 224 North
16

Continue on IA 224

1.0 mi · 1 min · State Highway 224 East
17

Turn right onto IA 14

2.9 mi · 4 min · State Highway 14
18

Continue on IA 14

1.2 mi · 1 min · Reed Avenue
19

Continue on IA 14

0.5 mi · 43 sec · South Main Street
20

Continue on IA 14

7.7 mi · 11 min · Reed Avenue
21

Continue on IA 14

2.8 mi · 4 min · South Center Street
22

Turn right onto IA 14

0.3 mi · 29 sec · East Anson Street
23

Turn left onto IA 14

0.8 mi · 1 min · South 3rd Avenue
24

Arrive at destination

IA 14

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.7 miles from Ottumwa, IA, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.7 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 21 miles or 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 47.7 miles or 58m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marshalltown, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Ottumwa, 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 Ottumwa, IA

This is one driving day of about 95.3 miles and 2h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Ottumwa, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 63 for about 37.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 47.7 mi from Ottumwa, IA · 58m into the drive

city in Marion County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Pella, IA

48 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

Oskaloosa, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pella, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.7 miles from Ottumwa, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Marshalltown, IA

The final approach into Marshalltown, 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 Marshalltown, 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

$14.90 one way

$29.80 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $16.36 $32.72
premium $4.89 $18.34 $36.68
diesel $5.61 $21.04 $42.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.6 0 $10.01 $4.57
Efficient EV 23.8 0 $8.34 $3.81
EV Truck/SUV 38.1 0 $13.34 $6.10

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Ottumwa, IA

Night in Ottumwa on Thursday

Local time

10:23 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Marshalltown, IA

Night in Marshalltown on Thursday

Local time

10:23 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°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

2 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

2h 8m 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 Ottumwa, IA to Marshalltown, IA covers 95.3 miles and takes about 2h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 63, Highway T14, Reed Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.7 miles from Ottumwa, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.90 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 is a straightforward 2h 8m 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 0.2 miles (US 63 Business; IA 149 / North Wapello Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.1 miles (IA 14 / State Highway 14): Navigation decision point.
Between Ottumwa, IA and Marshalltown, IA, road signs point toward Pella Opera House and Pella.

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