Connecting Iowa City to Marshalltown, this 92.2-mile journey takes approximately 1 hour and 37 minutes to complete. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You will navigate using a combination of local routes, including Kimball Road and North Dubuque Street, before transitioning onto I-380. Budgeting roughly $14 for fuel will cover your transit across the heart of the Midwest. Since both cities are located within Iowa, you can expect a familiar regional atmosphere throughout the entire drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.3 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 218
33.7 mi
39m
Lincoln Highway
31.8 mi
36m
Avenue of the Saints
16 mi
17m
I 80
4.1 mi
4m
South Center Street
2.3 mi
3m
North Dubuque Street
1.2 mi
3m
South Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
South 3rd Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 218
— 33.7 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Marshalltown, IA.
1
Start on South Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·South Gilbert Street
2
Turn slight left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·22 sec·Kimball Road
3
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.2 mi·3 min·North Dubuque Street
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·58 sec
5
Merge onto I 80
4.1 mi·4 min·I 80
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
8
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
16 mi·17 min·Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit onto US 218
34 mi·39 min·US 218
Toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama
10
Continue on US 30
32 mi·36 min·Lincoln Highway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
12
Turn right onto IA 14
2.3 mi·3 min·South Center Street
13
Turn right onto IA 14
0.3 mi·29 sec·East Anson Street
14
Turn left onto IA 14
0.8 mi·1 min·South 3rd Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
IA 14
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 37-minute duration, you have significant flexibility to depart whenever it suits your schedule. You won't need to plan for formal stops, as the trip is short enough to drive in one go without a break. Since this is a turn-heavy route, ensure your GPS is clearly visible so you can anticipate the frequent transitions between local roads. Fill your tank before leaving Iowa City to keep your $14 fuel budget on track. Embracing the lack of highway miles allows you to move at a steady, local pace without the stress of high-speed traffic.
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 46.3 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.7 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 20 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.3 miles or 57m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marshalltown, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Iowa City, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Iowa City, IA
This is one driving day of about 92.6 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Iowa City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 218 for about 33.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.6 and 91.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.6 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
6
6.9 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar...
5
23.5 mi into trip|~30m in|US 218
Take the exit onto US 218 toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North:...
4
91.6 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|IA 14 / East Anson Street
Turn right onto IA 14 / East Anson Street
Navigation decision point
4
91.9 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|IA 14 / South 3rd Avenue
Turn left onto IA 14 / South 3rd Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.48 one way
$28.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.90
$31.79
premium
$4.89
$17.82
$35.64
diesel
$5.61
$20.44
$40.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.8
0
$9.72
$4.44
Efficient EV
23.2
0
$8.10
$3.70
EV Truck/SUV
37
0
$12.96
$5.93
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Iowa City, IA
Morning
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
8:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Marshalltown, IA
Morning
in Marshalltown on Sunday
Local time
8:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
5 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 53m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With a 0% highway share, this route relies entirely on local roads, meaning you won't find long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed travel. In fact, the longest segment you will encounter is 0 miles on Kimball Road, highlighting the frequent adjustments required behind the wheel. The character of the road is technical and requires constant navigation through turns. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local landscape from start to finish.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.7 mi on US 218.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.6 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.6 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.5 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Iowa City, IA to Marshalltown, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo along the way.
Waterloo
6.9 mi in|~12m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 92.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.7 miles on US 218. 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 Marshalltown, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.5 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Marshalltown, IA before heading back.
