Origin
Altoona, IA
Night in Altoona on Saturday
Local time
11:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Altoona, IA to Marshalltown, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
42.5 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Altoona, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Marshalltown, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the Iowa Midwest, the 42.5-mile journey from Altoona to Marshalltown is a straightforward trip that takes about 55 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance, this route functions perfectly as a simple day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend roughly $6 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. Navigating between these two cities involves a series of local roads rather than major interstates, providing a direct transition between these regional hubs. It is an ideal choice if you need a reliable, efficient connection without the complexity of a long-distance haul.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Hubbell Road | 33.9 mi | 39m |
| West Lincolnway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Marshalltown Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Grant Street South | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| 1st Avenue South | 1 mi | 1m |
| 1st Avenue North | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South 3rd Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Northeast Hubbell Road
— 33.9 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, IA and Marshalltown, IA.
1
Start on 1st Avenue South
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue South
2
Enter roundabout onto 1st Avenue North
107 ft
·
2 sec
·
1st Avenue North
3
Continue on 1st Avenue North
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue North
4
Continue on Northeast 72nd Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Northeast 72nd Street
5
Continue on Grant Street South
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Grant Street South
6
Continue on Grant Street South
135 ft
·
7 sec
·
Grant Street South
7
Turn right onto US 65; IA 330
34 mi
·
39 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
8
Continue on Marshalltown Boulevard
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Marshalltown Boulevard
9
Continue on West Lincolnway
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
West Lincolnway
10
Continue on West Madison Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
West Madison Street
11
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
South 3rd Street
12
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
13
Turn left onto IA 14
103 ft
·
1 sec
·
North 3rd Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
IA 14
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.3 miles from Altoona, 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 55 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 42.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
1st Avenue North
Enter roundabout onto 1st Avenue North
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 65; IA 330 / Northeast Hubbell Road
Turn right onto US 65; IA 330 / Northeast Hubbell Road
Navigation decision point
3
41.6 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
South 3rd Street
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
4
42 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
West Main Street
Turn right onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
42.5 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
IA 14 / North 3rd Avenue
Turn left onto IA 14 / North 3rd Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.64 one way
$13.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.30 | $14.59 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.18 | $16.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.38 | $18.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.46 | $2.04 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.72 | $1.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17 | 0 | $5.95 | $2.72 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Marshalltown, IA
Night in Marshalltown on Saturday
Local time
11:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Rhodes, IA
21 mi in
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
1 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
55m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route contains no highway-share sections. You will spend the bulk of your time on Northeast Hubbell Road, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 33.9 miles. The remainder of the trip transitions through West Lincolnway and Marshalltown Boulevard, requiring you to stay alert for frequent turns. Because the entire 42.5-mile distance consists of local roadways, the pace is dictated by local traffic patterns rather than high-speed highway cruising. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience where the road surface and navigation require your full attention throughout the hour-long commute.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.9 mi on Northeast Hubbell Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near 1st Avenue North.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Altoona, IA to Marshalltown, IA is easy. At 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (1st Avenue North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.1 miles (US 65; IA 330 / Northeast Hubbell Road): Navigation decision point; at 41.6 miles (South 3rd Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,055 ft
812 ft
Total Climb
546 ft
Total Descent
561 ft
Highest Point
1,055 ft
~30.2 mi in
Elevation Range
243 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 42.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.9 miles on Northeast Hubbell Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (1st Avenue North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.1 miles (US 65; IA 330 / Northeast Hubbell Road): Navigation decision point; at 41.6 miles (South 3rd Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Marshalltown, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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