Marion, IA to Denison, IA is 202 miles and takes about 4h 15m via Lincoln Highway and US 30, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traveling through Iowa on a route that's mostly surface roads. It's a straightforward drive, perfect if you're looking for a relatively quick connection between two points without a lot of fuss. Plan for a single-day excursion, as the duration suggests you'll have plenty of time to reach your destination comfortably.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
101 miles from Marion, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
78.3 mi
1h 30m
220th Street
43.6 mi
57m
US 30
29.4 mi
43m
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
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 Denison, 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
29 mi·43 min·US 30
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·South Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 15m estimated drive time, leaving Marion, IA in the morning will get you to Denison, IA with plenty of daylight to spare. While the longest stretch is 78.3 miles, the overall drive is manageable, so you'll only need one planned stop for fuel or a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $32, and services might be less frequent on the surface road sections. This single-day trip offers flexibility; you can depart a bit later if needed, but an early start ensures a relaxed pace.
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 101 miles from Marion, IA, or about 1h 59m 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 44 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Denison, 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 202 miles and 4h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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.
Early stretch
3.8 mi from route
~9 min detour
$10 to $20
Tama, Iowa
Hours: 11 am–1:45 pm
+16414817332
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 201.7 — 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
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...
4
201.7 mi into trip|~4h 14m in|South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.70 one way
$67.39 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$36.62
$73.24
premium
$5.26
$41.82
$83.65
diesel
$6.18
$49.14
$98.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.6
0
$21.21
$9.70
Efficient EV
50.5
0
$17.68
$8.08
EV Truck/SUV
80.8
1
$28.28
$12.93
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Marion, IA
Morning
in Marion on Monday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Denison, IA
Morning
in Denison on Monday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°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
8 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
4h 15m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 drive features a highway share of 15%, meaning you'll spend the majority of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on the Lincoln Highway covers 78.3 miles. You'll notice a shift from highway cruising to more rural, town-influenced roads as you progress. Expect to navigate through varying speed limits and potential local traffic.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 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?
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 0.1 miles in near 10th Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 15m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,320 ft795 ft
Total Climb
644 ft
Total Descent
205 ft
Highest Point
1,320 ft
~187.6 mi in
Elevation Range
525 ft
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 Denison, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marshalltown 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.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Denison, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
