Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
12.3 mi
20 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marathon, IA
Stephen Leonardi
Sioux Rapids, IA
Aleksei Mzhachev
Marathon, IA to Sioux Rapids, IA is 12.3 miles and takes about 18 minutes via 460th Street, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Midwest region, specifically Iowa, making it a straightforward local connection. Given its brief duration, this route is ideal for a quick transfer or a simple out-and-back trip without requiring extensive planning. It's a practical choice for moving between two points within the same general area.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 460th Street | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| 130th Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| County Highway 71 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| South Agora | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Agora Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Thomas Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Birnice Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Marathon, IA and Sioux Rapids, IA.
Start on West Attica Street
Turn right onto Agora Street
At end of road, turn right onto West Birnice Street
Continue on South Agora
Turn right onto IA 10
Turn right onto US 71
Continue on US 71
Turn right onto Thomas Street
Turn left onto 1st Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 12.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Agora Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto West Birnice Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Turn right onto IA 10 / 460th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Thomas Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.04 one way
$4.09 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $2.23 | $4.46 |
| premium | $5.18 | $2.51 | $5.02 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $2.59 | $5.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.29 | $0.59 |
| Efficient EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.08 | $0.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.79 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Marathon on Wednesday
Local time
4:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Sioux Rapids on Wednesday
Local time
4:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is primarily on surface roads, with only about 9% of the 12.3 miles on highways. You'll experience the longest stretch, 8.5 miles, along 460th Street before transitioning to 130th Avenue and County Highway 71. Expect mostly rural cruising as you navigate these county roads. The transition from any highway portion to these surface roads will be noticeable as you settle into a steadier pace.
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 early in the drive near Agora Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 18m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Agora Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West Birnice Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.8 miles (IA 10 / 460th Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
71 ft
Total Descent
204 ft
Highest Point
1,395 ft
Elevation Range
133 ft
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 12.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (9%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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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