Origin
Waverly, IA
Afternoon in Waverly on Sunday
Local time
1:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waverly, IA to Marion, IA
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
75.5 mi
122 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
Photo: Joanna Bogacz
Trip Overview
The drive from Waverly, IA to Marion, IA covers 75.5 miles and takes about 1h 32m 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, Leo P Rooff Expressway, I 380 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.6 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.47 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
37.8 miles from Waverly, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 32m drive with frequent turns across 75.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 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 51.6 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
944 ft
758 ft
Total Climb
313 ft
Total Descent
381 ft
Highest Point
944 ft
~3.1 mi in
Elevation Range
186 ft
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 23.4 miles in near I 380.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 75.5 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 23.4 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.9 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
23.4 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
29.9 mi into trip
|
~39m 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
71 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IA 100
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward IA 100
7
71.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m 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
71.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m 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...
Towns Along This Route
Between Waverly, IA and Marion, IA, road signs point toward Dubuque and Cedar Falls.
Dubuque
23.4 mi in
|
~31m
|
via I 380
Cedar Falls
23.4 mi in
|
~31m
|
via I 380
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 51.6 mi | 56m |
| 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 |
| 4th Street Southwest | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| US 218 Business | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| 4th Avenue Southwest | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 51.6 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waverly, IA and Marion, IA.
1
Start on IA 3
62 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Bremer Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 218 Business
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
4th Street Southwest
3
Continue on 4th Avenue Southwest
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Avenue Southwest
4
Keep slight left at fork onto US 218 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 218 Business
5
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
6
Take the exit
317 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
7
Continue on US 218
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 218
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
8
Merge onto US 218
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
9
Continue on US 218
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Street
10
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
11
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
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward IA 100
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
Toward IA 100
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
16
Turn left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 east: Waterloo, Marion
Use the straight lane.
17
Merge onto IA 100
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Collins Road Northeast
18
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Collins Road Northeast
19
Turn left onto 1st Avenue East
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
1st Avenue East
20
Continue on Marion Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Marion Boulevard
21
Continue on US 151 Business
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
7th Avenue
22
Turn left onto 6th Street
316 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
23
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Avenue
24
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 37.8 miles from Waverly, IA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.6 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 75.5 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.8 miles or 47m 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 16m
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 Waverly, 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 Waverly, IA
This is one driving day of about 75.5 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Waverly, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 51.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.8 mi from Waverly, IA · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 75.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.8 miles from Waverly, 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
$11.47 one way
$22.94 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $12.64 | $25.28 |
| premium | $4.80 | $14.25 | $28.51 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $16.77 | $33.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.93 | $3.62 |
| Efficient EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.61 | $3.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.2 | 0 | $10.57 | $4.83 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 Sunday
Local time
1:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
38 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
4 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 32m 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 Waverly, IA to Marion, IA covers 75.5 miles and takes about 1h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, Leo P Rooff Expressway, I 380. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.8 miles from Waverly, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.47 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 demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 75.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 23.4 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.9 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Waverly, IA and Marion, IA, road signs point toward Dubuque and Cedar Falls.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 758 ft to 944 ft elevation with about 313 ft of total climbing.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Marion, IA
More from Waverly, IA
More trips to Marion, IA
Explore more options from Waverly, IA or browse trips ending in Marion, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Waverly, IA or Marion, IA on MapSof.net.