Connecting Keokuk to Marshalltown, this 182.7-mile journey through the heart of Iowa is an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. Expect to spend approximately 3 hours and 37 minutes behind the wheel, making it a manageable trek for those comfortable with a bit of navigation. With fuel costs estimated at around $28, the route is budget-friendly and straightforward for a quick getaway. You will primarily utilize a combination of the Avenue of the Saints, US 218, and the historic Lincoln Highway to reach your destination. Because the entire trip stays within the Midwest, the transition between these two Iowa cities feels consistent and familiar. It is a practical drive that favors efficiency, so you can easily complete the round trip or reach your destination for an afternoon arrival without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
91.3 miles from Keokuk, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
94.7 mi
1h 48m
US 218
43.4 mi
54m
Lincoln Highway
31.8 mi
36m
US 61
5.6 mi
6m
Main Street
3.5 mi
5m
South Center Street
2.3 mi
3m
South 3rd Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
East Anson Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 94.7 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Keokuk, IA and Marshalltown, IA.
1
Start on US 136
3.5 mi·5 min·Main Street
2
Continue on US 61; US 218
5.6 mi·6 min·US 61; US 218
3
Turn left onto US 218
9.2 mi·13 min·US 218
4
Take the ramp onto US 218
0.4 mi·57 sec·US 218
5
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
27 mi·30 min·Avenue of the Saints
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 218; IA 27
68 mi·1 hr 17 min·Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit onto US 218
34 mi·39 min·US 218
Toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama
8
Continue on US 30
32 mi·36 min·Lincoln Highway
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
10
Turn right onto IA 14
2.3 mi·3 min·South Center Street
11
Turn right onto IA 14
0.3 mi·29 sec·East Anson Street
12
Turn left onto IA 14
0.8 mi·1 min·South 3rd Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
IA 14
Trip Plan
For the best experience, plan for a one-day trip to take full advantage of the route's flexibility. Since you will only need one stop to manage the 3-hour and 37-minute duration, timing your break around the midway point is a smart way to stay refreshed. Given that the route is quite turn-heavy, leave early in the day to ensure you are navigating the more technical stretches in daylight rather than after dusk. Budgeting roughly $28 for fuel will keep you on track, but keep a little extra set aside for local fluctuations. A concrete tip for this trek: because nearly three-quarters of your time is spent on local roads, prioritize checking your tire pressure before departure to ensure better handling on the turns found along the Lincoln Highway and regional connectors.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 91.3 miles from Keokuk, IA, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.7 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 40 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.3 miles or 1h 50m 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 57m
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 Keokuk, 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 Keokuk, IA
This is one driving day of about 182.7 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Keokuk, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 94.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.1 and 181.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
9.1 mi into trip|~12m in|US 218
Turn left onto US 218
Navigation decision point
4
45.3 mi into trip|~57m in|US 218; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight left at fork onto US 218; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
113.5 mi into trip|~2h 15m 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
181.7 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|IA 14 / East Anson Street
Turn right onto IA 14 / East Anson Street
Navigation decision point
4
181.9 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|IA 14 / South 3rd Avenue
Turn left onto IA 14 / South 3rd Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.56 one way
$57.13 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.36
$62.72
premium
$4.89
$35.16
$70.32
diesel
$5.61
$40.34
$80.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.8
0
$19.18
$8.77
Efficient EV
45.7
0
$15.99
$7.31
EV Truck/SUV
73.1
0
$25.58
$11.69
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Keokuk, IA
Night
in Keokuk on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Marshalltown, IA
Night
in Marshalltown on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
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
14 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 37m 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?
This journey offers a distinct personality, characterized by a turn-heavy local feel that keeps you engaged throughout the 182.7 miles. While the route is only 27% highway, you will get a solid dose of steady cruising during the 94.7-mile stretch along the Avenue of the Saints. Beyond those faster segments, the experience shifts toward more technical, winding local roads that require your full attention. The contrast between the open highway sections and the tighter local passages ensures the drive doesn't feel like a monotonous interstate grind. Navigating these transitions provides a varied driving experience that rewards those who enjoy moving through the landscape at a varied pace.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.7 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in near US 218.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 37m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles (US 218): Navigation decision point; at 45.3 miles (US 218; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 113.5 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 182.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 94.7 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: at 9.1 miles (US 218): Navigation decision point; at 45.3 miles (US 218; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 113.5 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Marshalltown, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
