Origin
Washington, IA
Afternoon in Washington on Saturday
Local time
3:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Washington, IA to Marion, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 26m
Distance
116 mi
187 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 17m
★
6 AM
2h 27m
8 AM
2h 47m
10 AM
2h 34m
12 PM
2h 32m
3 PM
2h 35m
5 PM
2h 46m
8 PM
2h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Washington, IA
Paula Nardini
Marion, IA
Joanna Bogacz
Trip Overview
The drive from Washington, IA to Marion, IA covers 116 miles and takes about 2h 26m 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, 210th Street, State Highway 3 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.14 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
58 miles from Washington, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 56 mi | 1h 1m |
| 210th Street | 18 mi | 24m |
| State Highway 3 | 15.1 mi | 20m |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | 6.7 mi | 8m |
| I 380 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| Washington Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Collins Road Northeast | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Central Avenue West | 2.1 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 56 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington, IA and Marion, IA.
1
Start on IA 3
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 3
2
Continue on IA 3
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Central Avenue West
3
Continue on IA 3
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 3
4
Continue on IA 3
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
210th Street
5
Continue on IA 3
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Street
6
Continue on IA 3
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
210th Street
7
Continue on IA 3; IA 14
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 3
8
Continue on IA 3
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
210th Street
9
Continue on IA 3
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 3
10
Continue on IA 3
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
230th Street
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
12
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
13
Take the exit
317 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
14
Continue on US 218
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 218
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
15
Merge onto US 218
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
16
Continue on US 218
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Street
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 380
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
18
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
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward IA 100
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
Toward IA 100
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
23
Turn left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 east: Waterloo, Marion
Use the straight lane.
24
Merge onto IA 100
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Collins Road Northeast
25
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Collins Road Northeast
26
Turn left onto 1st Avenue East
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
1st Avenue East
27
Continue on Marion Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Marion Boulevard
28
Continue on US 151 Business
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
7th Avenue
29
Turn left onto 6th Street
316 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
30
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
8th Avenue
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 58 miles from Washington, IA, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56 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 26 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58 miles or 1h 17m 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
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 Washington, 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 Washington, IA
This is one driving day of about 116 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Washington, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 56 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58 miles from Washington, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 63.8 and 111.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
63.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids,...
6
70.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m 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
111.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IA 100
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward IA 100
7
111.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m 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
111.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.14 one way
$36.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.91 | $39.82 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.32 | $44.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.61 | $51.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.18 | $5.57 |
| Efficient EV | 29 | 0 | $10.15 | $4.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.4 | 0 | $16.24 | $7.42 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 Saturday
Local time
3:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
58 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
19 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 26m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
116 mi in 2h 26m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 63.8 miles in near I 380.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 116 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 63.8 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.4 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 111.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Washington, IA and Marion, IA, road signs point toward Dubuque and Cedar Falls.
Dubuque
63.8 mi in
|
~1h 25m
|
via I 380
Cedar Falls
63.8 mi in
|
~1h 25m
|
via I 380
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 116 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Marion, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 63.8 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.4 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 111.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Marion, IA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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