Marion, IA to Centerville, IA is 154 miles and takes about 3h 25m via I 80 and US 63, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The route is mostly highway driving before transitioning to surface roads. It's a straightforward drive, perfect if you're looking for a quick trip between two points without much fuss. Plan for a single day to cover the distance comfortably.
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
77 miles from Marion, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
46.4 mi
49m
US 63
28.5 mi
40m
Avenue of the Saints
21.5 mi
24m
South Clinton Street
20.6 mi
30m
South Main Street
14.5 mi
22m
State Highway 137
14.5 mi
21m
Oakland Road Northeast
1 mi
1m
Collins Road Northeast
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 46.4 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marion, IA and Centerville, 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
0.9 mi·1 min·Collins Road Northeast
10
Turn left onto CR W56
140 ft·3 sec·C Avenue Northeast
11
Turn slight right onto Old Marion Road Northeast
0.9 mi·1 min·Old Marion Road Northeast
12
Continue on Oakland Road Northeast
1.0 mi·1 min·Oakland Road Northeast
13
Turn right onto 29th Street Northeast
0.3 mi·30 sec·29th Street Northeast
14
Continue on Coldstream Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi·22 sec·Coldstream Avenue Northeast
15
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
16
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
22 mi·24 min·Avenue of the Saints
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
19
Merge onto I 80
46 mi·49 min·I 80
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 63: Montezuma, Tama
21
Turn left onto US 63
21 mi·31 min·US 63
22
Turn left onto US 63
14 mi·22 min·South Main Street
23
Take the ramp onto US 63
7.5 mi·9 min·US 63
24
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
25
Turn right onto IA 137
14 mi·21 min·State Highway 137
26
Continue on IA 5
0.8 mi·1 min·North Main Street
27
Turn straight onto IA 5
21 mi·30 min·South Clinton Street
28
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East Washington Street
29
Turn left onto North 13th Street
359 ft·15 sec·North 13th Street
30
Continue on North 13th Street
302 ft·13 sec·North 13th Street
31
Arrive at destination
North 13th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 25m duration, you can easily make this trip in one day. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Centerville. The longest stretch without an exit is about 46.4 miles on I 80, so make sure you have what you need before embarking on that segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $24, it's an affordable drive. There's one recommended stop, so consider planning that break around the halfway point to stretch your legs and break up the drive. Keep an eye on the transition from highway to surface roads as you approach your destination.
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 77 miles from Marion, IA, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.4 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 34 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77 miles or 1h 30m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Centerville, 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 154 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 I 80 for about 46.4 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 26.7 — 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
4.7 mi into trip|~9m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
26.7 mi into trip|~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.08 one way
$48.15 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.43
$52.87
premium
$4.89
$29.64
$59.27
diesel
$5.61
$34.00
$68.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.2
0
$16.17
$7.39
Efficient EV
38.5
0
$13.48
$6.16
EV Truck/SUV
61.6
0
$21.56
$9.86
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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 19, 2026
Origin
Marion, IA
Late night
in Marion on Tuesday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Sunny
NW 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 2:39PM CDT until April 20 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 11:39AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Centerville, IA
Late night
in Centerville on Tuesday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 2:39PM CDT until April 20 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 11:39AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
43°F
Brooklyn, IA
77 mi in
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
9 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 25m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 58% of your time on highways, including a stretch of 46.4 miles on I 80. The initial part of the drive will be on I 80, offering consistent highway speeds. After leaving I 80, you'll transition to US 63 and then Avenue of the Saints, which will feel more like rural cruising with fewer exits and potentially slower speeds. Expect a mixed driving experience as you move from higher-speed interstate to more local road conditions.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.4 mi on I 80.
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 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 10th Street.
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 154 miles you will encounter 18 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 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 Centerville, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Tama along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 154 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.4 miles on I 80. 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.
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 Centerville, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Centerville, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
