Origin
Sioux Center, IA
Evening in Sioux Center on Friday
Local time
8:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sioux Center, IA to Marion, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 55m
Distance
293.1 mi
472 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 42m
★
6 AM
5h 55m
8 AM
6h 21m
10 AM
6h 4m
12 PM
6h 2m
3 PM
6h 6m
5 PM
6h 20m
8 PM
5h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sioux Center, IA
Tom Fisk
Marion, IA
Joanna Bogacz
Trip Overview
The drive from Sioux Center, IA to Marion, IA covers 293.1 miles and takes about 5h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 220th Street, Avenue of the Saints, Highway 20 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 165.9 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.82 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
146.5 miles from Sioux Center, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 5m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 55m. Total distance: 293.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (15%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 55m drive with frequent turns across 293.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
220th Street is the longest continuous segment at about 165.9 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,463 ft
847 ft
Total Climb
291 ft
Total Descent
907 ft
Highest Point
1,463 ft
Elevation Range
616 ft
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 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 54.2 miles in near US 20 / Highway 20.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 293.1 miles you will encounter 17 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 54.2 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 247.4 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 288.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
54.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
US 20 / Highway 20
Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
247.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 2m in
|
I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
6
288.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IA 100
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward IA 100
7
288.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 47m 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
288.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 47m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 165.9 mi | 3h 11m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 40.7 mi | 43m |
| Highway 20 | 19 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 140 | 15.1 mi | 20m |
| United States Highway 20 | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| 450th Street | 7.8 mi | 11m |
| County Road L14 | 7 mi | 9m |
| North Main Avenue | 5.7 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 165.9 mi, about 3h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux Center, IA and Marion, IA.
1
Start on US 75
5.7 mi
·
9 min
·
North Main Avenue
2
Turn left onto IA 10
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
450th Street
3
Continue on IA 10
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Highway 10 West
4
Continue on IA 10
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street Southwest
5
Continue on IA 10
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
450th Street
6
Enter roundabout onto 450th Street
79 ft
·
4 sec
·
450th Street
7
Continue on 450th Street
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
450th Street
8
Turn right onto IA 10
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Kennedy Avenue
9
Continue on IA 10
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
State Highway 10
10
Continue on IA 10
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
460th Street
11
Turn right onto L14
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Kiwi Avenue
12
Continue on L14
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road L14
13
Continue on IA 140
15 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 140
14
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
320th Street
15
Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Shamrock Avenue
16
Continue on L21
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Lee Avenue
17
Turn left onto US 20
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
United States Highway 20
19
Continue on US 20
166 mi
·
3 hr 11 min
·
220th Street
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
41 mi
·
43 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward IA 100
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
Toward IA 100
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
25
Turn left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 east: Waterloo, Marion
Use the straight lane.
26
Merge onto IA 100
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Collins Road Northeast
27
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Collins Road Northeast
28
Turn left onto 1st Avenue East
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
1st Avenue East
29
Continue on Marion Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Marion Boulevard
30
Continue on US 151 Business
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
7th Avenue
31
Turn left onto 6th Street
316 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
32
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Avenue
33
Arrive at destination
8th 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 146.5 miles from Sioux Center, IA, or about 3h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.9 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 64 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.5 miles or 3h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marion, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sioux Center, 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 Sioux Center, IA
This is one driving day of about 293.1 miles and 5h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Sioux Center, 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 220th Street for about 165.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 146.5 mi from Sioux Center, IA · 3h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
147 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 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 146.5 miles from Sioux Center, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 165.9 miles.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Marion, IA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.82 one way
$91.65 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
103 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $50.31 | $100.62 |
| premium | $4.89 | $56.40 | $112.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $64.71 | $129.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.9 | 1 | $30.78 | $14.07 |
| Efficient EV | 73.3 | 0 | $25.65 | $11.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 117.2 | 1 | $41.03 | $18.76 |
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Evening in Marion on Friday
Local time
8:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Nevada, IA
147 mi in
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
27 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
5h 55m 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 Sioux Center, IA to Marion, IA covers 293.1 miles and takes about 5h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 220th Street, Avenue of the Saints, Highway 20. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 146.5 miles from Sioux Center, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.82 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 293.1 miles you will encounter 17 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 54.2 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 247.4 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 288.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Sioux Center, IA to Marion, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 847 ft to 1,463 ft elevation with about 291 ft of total climbing.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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