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Trip from Boone, 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 29m

Distance

124.6 mi

200 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 19m ★
6 AM
2h 29m
8 AM
2h 49m
10 AM
2h 36m
12 PM
2h 34m
3 PM
2h 37m
5 PM
2h 48m
8 PM
2h 23m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Iowa, United States

Boone, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Linn County, Iowa, United States

Marion, IA

Joanna Bogacz

Trip Overview

This 124.6-mile drive from Boone, IA to Marion, IA is a straightforward, one-day trip that should take about 2 hours and 29 minutes to complete. With a fuel cost estimated at $19, it's an economical option for a quick getaway within the Midwest region. The route primarily utilizes local roads like 230th Street and 73rd Street, with a small portion on IA 100, making it a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate journey. This makes it ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

62.3 miles from Boone, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
230th Street 77.2 mi 1h 29m
73rd Street 26.8 mi 30m
IA 100 9.4 mi 11m
220th Street 5.2 mi 6m
Collins Road Northeast 1.8 mi 2m
Story Street 1.7 mi 3m
Marion Boulevard 0.6 mi 1m
8th Avenue 0.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: 230th Street — 77.2 mi, about 1h 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Boone, IA and Marion, IA.

1

Start on Mamie Eisenhower Avenue

67 ft · 5 sec · Mamie Eisenhower Avenue
2

Turn right onto Story Street

1.7 mi · 3 min · Story Street
3

Turn left onto US 30

5.2 mi · 6 min · 220th Street
4

Continue on US 30

77 mi · 1 hr 29 min · 230th Street
5

Continue on US 30

27 mi · 30 min · 73rd Street
6

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
7

Continue on IA 100

9.4 mi · 11 min · IA 100
8

Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100

1.8 mi · 2 min · Collins Road Northeast
9

Turn left onto 1st Avenue East

0.1 mi · 22 sec · 1st Avenue East
10

Continue on Marion Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · Marion Boulevard
11

Continue on US 151 Business

0.3 mi · 45 sec · 7th Avenue
12

Turn left onto 6th Street

316 ft · 17 sec · 6th Street
13

Turn right onto 8th Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · 8th Avenue
14

Arrive at destination

8th Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the manageable 2 hour and 29 minute duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to worry about splitting the drive, so you can leave when it's most convenient. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch on 230th Street is over 77 miles and may have fewer services. While there are no designated stops listed, plan for short breaks as needed to stay refreshed, especially during the longer segments on local roads.

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 62.3 miles from Boone, IA, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.2 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 27 miles or 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 62.3 miles or 1h 14m 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 Boone, 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 Boone, IA

This is one driving day of about 124.6 miles and 2h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Boone, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on 230th Street for about 77.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Tama County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tama, IA

62 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

Nevada, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tama, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 62.3 miles from Boone, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before 230th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.2 miles.

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 5

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 124.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Story Street

Turn right onto Story Street

Navigation decision point

5
110.9 mi into trip | ~2h 10m in

Take the exit toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
4
121.3 mi into trip | ~2h 23m in | IA 100 / Collins Road Northeast

Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100 / Collins Road Northeast

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
124.2 mi into trip | ~2h 27m in | 6th Street

Turn left onto 6th Street

Navigation decision point

4
124.3 mi into trip | ~2h 28m in | 8th Avenue

Turn right onto 8th Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.48 one way

$38.96 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 44 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $21.39 $42.78
premium $4.89 $23.98 $47.96
diesel $5.61 $27.51 $55.02

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 43.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 37.4 0 $13.08 $5.98
Efficient EV 31.2 0 $10.90 $4.98
EV Truck/SUV 49.8 0 $17.44 $7.97

Gas CO2

44 kg

EV CO2

15 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Boone, IA

Night in Boone on Saturday

Local time

9:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Marion, IA

Night in Marion on Saturday

Local time

9:45 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

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

2h 29m 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 local, turn-heavy drive for most of this 124.6-mile journey, with only about 8% of the route on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 77.2 miles along 230th Street, offering a good period of consistent travel before you start navigating more local roads. This profile suggests a route that winds through local communities and countryside, rather than a monotonous interstate grind. The road character will likely shift from more open stretches to tighter turns as you progress toward Marion.

Only 8% 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: 77.2 mi on 230th Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

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 early in the drive near Story Street.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Boone, IA to Marion, IA is easy. At 2h 29m with 8% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Story Street): Navigation decision point; at 110.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 121.3 miles (IA 100 / Collins Road Northeast): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 124.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (8%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 77.2 miles on 230th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Story Street): Navigation decision point; at 110.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 121.3 miles (IA 100 / Collins Road Northeast): 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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Explore more options from Boone, IA or browse trips ending in Marion, IA.

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