Origin
Storm Lake, IA
Afternoon in Storm Lake on Thursday
Local time
2:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Storm Lake, IA to Marion, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 24m
Distance
212.8 mi
342 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 12m
★
6 AM
3h 24m
8 AM
3h 48m
10 AM
3h 32m
12 PM
3h 30m
3 PM
3h 34m
5 PM
3h 47m
8 PM
3h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Storm Lake, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Marion, IA
Joanna Bogacz
Trip Overview
The drive from Storm Lake, IA to Marion, IA covers 212.8 miles and takes about 3h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Lakeshore Drive, 130th Avenue, US 71 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.27 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
106.4 miles from Storm Lake, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 212.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 24m drive with frequent turns across 212.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Lakeshore Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
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 3h 24m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Storm Lake, IA to Marion, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Lakeshore Drive | — | — |
| 130th Avenue | — | — |
| US 71 | — | — |
| US 20 East | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| IA 100 | — | — |
| I-380 south | — | — |
| I-380 north | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Lakeshore Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Storm Lake, IA and Marion, IA.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Grand Avenue
2
Continue on West Lakeshore Drive
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
West Lakeshore Drive
3
Continue on 130th Avenue
11 mi
·
14 min
·
130th Avenue
4
Continue on US 71
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 71
5
Take the exit left toward US 20 East: Fort Dodge
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
US 20 East: Fort Dodge
6
Merge slight left
153 mi
·
2 hr 56 min
7
Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints
41 mi
·
43 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
8
Take the exit slight right toward IA 100
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
IA 100
9
Keep slight left
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
10
Keep slight right to continue on IA 100
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
IA 100
11
Keep slight left to continue on I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
12
Turn left onto I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 east: Waterloo, Marion
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 east: Waterloo, Marion
13
Merge slight left onto Collins Road Northeast
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Collins Road Northeast
14
Keep slight right to continue on Collins Road Northeast
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Collins Road Northeast
15
Turn left onto 1st Avenue East
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
1st Avenue East
16
Continue on Marion Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Marion Boulevard
17
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
7th Avenue
18
Turn left onto 6th Street
315 ft
·
18 sec
·
6th Street
19
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Avenue
20
Arrive at your destination
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 106.4 miles from Storm Lake, IA, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
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 47 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.4 miles or 1h 42m 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 47m
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 Storm Lake, 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 Storm Lake, IA
This is one driving day of about 212.8 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Storm Lake, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 106.4 mi from Storm Lake, IA · 1h 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
106 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 106.4 miles from Storm Lake, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Marion, 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
$33.27 one way
$66.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
75 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $36.53 | $73.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $40.95 | $81.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.98 | $93.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.8 | 0 | $22.34 | $10.21 |
| Efficient EV | 53.2 | 0 | $18.62 | $8.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 85.1 | 1 | $29.79 | $13.62 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 Thursday
Local time
2:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
25 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
3h 24m 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 Storm Lake, IA to Marion, IA covers 212.8 miles and takes about 3h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Lakeshore Drive, 130th Avenue, US 71. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 106.4 miles from Storm Lake, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.27 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 24m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Storm Lake, IA to Marion, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Storm Lake, IA to Marion, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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