This 174.6-mile drive from Marion to Carroll, Iowa, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with a significant portion on the historic Lincoln Highway. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $27. With only one recommended stop, this route offers a straightforward experience across the Midwest. It's a good option if you're looking for a relatively short, direct drive without the need for 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
87.3 miles from Marion, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
78.3 mi
1h 30m
220th Street
43.6 mi
57m
73rd Street
24.4 mi
28m
Collins Road Northeast
11.2 mi
13m
County Road N33
10.3 mi
13m
16th Avenue Southwest
2.4 mi
2m
US 30
2.3 mi
4m
Marion Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 78.3 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marion, IA and Carroll, IA.
1
Start on 8th Avenue
445 ft·22 sec·8th Avenue
2
Turn left onto 10th Street
322 ft·12 sec·10th Street
3
Turn right onto US 151 Business
0.2 mi·21 sec·7th Avenue
4
Enter roundabout
103 ft·4 sec
5
Continue
130 ft·5 sec
6
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi·47 sec·7th Avenue
7
Continue on US 151 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·Marion Boulevard
8
Continue on US 151 Business
0.1 mi·18 sec·1st Avenue East
9
Turn right onto IA 100
11 mi·13 min·Collins Road Northeast
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
11
Merge onto US 30; US 218
2.4 mi·2 min·16th Avenue Southwest
12
Continue on US 30; US 218
24 mi·28 min·73rd Street
13
Continue on US 30
78 mi·1 hr 30 min·Lincoln Highway
14
Continue on US 30
44 mi·57 min·220th Street
15
Continue on US 30
10 mi·13 min·County Road N33
16
Continue on US 30
2.3 mi·4 min·US 30
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right
74 ft·10 sec
18
Turn left
129 ft·9 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given its 3-hour and 35-minute duration, this 174.6-mile trip is perfect for a single-day adventure. You could comfortably depart Marion in the morning and arrive in Carroll by lunchtime. With only one stop recommended, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps halfway through your longest stretch on the Lincoln Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into longer segments, as services might be less frequent between towns. The $27 fuel estimate should give you a good baseline for budgeting.
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 87.3 miles from Marion, IA, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.3 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 38 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.3 miles or 1h 43m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carroll, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Marion, 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 Marion, IA
This is one driving day of about 174.6 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Marion, 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 Lincoln Highway for about 78.3 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 174.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|10th Street
Turn left onto 10th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 151 Business / 7th Avenue
Turn right onto US 151 Business / 7th Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
12.6 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshall...
5
174.6 mi into trip|~3h 35m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.30 one way
$54.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.97
$59.94
premium
$4.89
$33.60
$67.20
diesel
$5.61
$38.55
$77.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.4
0
$18.33
$8.38
Efficient EV
43.7
0
$15.28
$6.98
EV Truck/SUV
69.8
0
$24.44
$11.17
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Marion, IA
Night
in Marion on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Carroll, IA
Night
in Carroll on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
3 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 35m 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' for this 174.6-mile journey. While 100% of this route utilizes local roads and highways, it's not a high-speed interstate experience. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 78.3 miles along the Lincoln Highway, offering a good period of steady travel. The remainder of the drive involves more frequent turns and changes in road character as you navigate through smaller communities and rural landscapes. This route demands your attention with its varied path.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.3 mi on Lincoln Highway.
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 around 0.1 miles in near 10th Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Marion, IA to Carroll, IA is easy. At 3h 35m with 1% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 151 Business / 7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 Marion, IA to Carroll, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marshalltown along the way.
Marshalltown
12.6 mi in|~16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 35m. Total distance: 174.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 78.3 miles on Lincoln Highway. 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 0.1 miles (10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 151 Business / 7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Carroll, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
