Marion, IA to Glenwood, IA is 268.1 miles and takes about 5h 7m via I 80 and Lincoln Highway, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, traversing Iowa from east to west. You'll experience a mix of interstate cruising and surface road travel as you head toward the western edge of the state. Given the relatively short duration and manageable distance, this route is well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
134 miles from Marion, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
124.6 mi
2h 14m
Lincoln Highway
37.3 mi
43m
Marshalltown Boulevard
33.7 mi
39m
73rd Street
24.4 mi
28m
US 65
13 mi
15m
I 29
12 mi
12m
Collins Road Northeast
11.2 mi
13m
US Highway 34
2.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 124.6 mi, about 2h 14m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,197 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~230 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 50 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marion, IA and Glenwood, 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
37 mi·43 min·Lincoln Highway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
15
Turn left onto IA 330
34 mi·39 min·Marshalltown Boulevard
16
Continue on US 65; IA 330
0.7 mi·58 sec·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
17
Take the exit onto US 65
13 mi·15 min·US 65
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 80; I 35
5.6 mi·6 min·I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
96 mi·1 hr 42 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
23 mi·25 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
21
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 4AToward I 29 South: Kansas CityUse the slight right lane.
22
Merge onto I 29
12 mi·12 min·I 29
23
Take the exit onto US 275
0.3 mi·44 sec·US 275
Toward US 34, US 275 South: South Bellevue, Glenwood
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 275
0.7 mi·1 min·US 275
25
Merge onto US 34; US 275
2.8 mi·4 min·US Highway 34
26
Turn left onto Hilman Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Hilman Road
27
Continue on Sharp Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Sharp Street
28
Turn left onto North Walnut Street
152 ft·8 sec·North Walnut Street
29
Turn right
225 ft·16 sec
30
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, departing in the morning will give you ample time to reach Glenwood, IA, before evening. With only one recommended stop and a total distance of 268.1 miles, you have flexibility in pacing. Consider making your stop around the halfway point to refuel and stretch your legs. The estimated fuel cost is $41, so ensure you have enough for the journey. Pay attention to the transition from I 80 to surface roads like Marshalltown Boulevard and Lincoln Highway, as this will change the driving 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 134 miles from Marion, IA, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124.6 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 59 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134 miles or 2h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glenwood, 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 268.1 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 124.6 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 249.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
112.1 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
7
130.7 mi into trip|~2h 35m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
6
226.2 mi into trip|~4h 18m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebrask...
7
249.7 mi into trip|~4h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 29 South: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4A
Toward I 29 South: Kansas City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.59 one way
$79.18 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$43.71
$87.42
premium
$4.72
$49.78
$99.56
diesel
$4.80
$50.62
$101.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.4
0
$28.15
$12.87
Efficient EV
67
0
$23.46
$10.72
EV Truck/SUV
107.2
1
$37.53
$17.16
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Marion, IA
Late night
in Marion on Sunday
Local time
4:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Glenwood, IA
Late night
in Glenwood on Sunday
Local time
4:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Clear
SSW 5 to 8 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 7m 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 route has a highway share of 57%, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on I 80. The longest stretch on the interstate is 124.6 miles, offering a period of uninterrupted highway travel. After this, you'll transition to surface roads, including the historic Lincoln Highway, for the remainder of the trip. Expect a mixed driving experience with both high-speed cruising and more local road navigation.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 124.6 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 268.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 112.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 130.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,334 ft847 ft
Total Climb
639 ft
Total Descent
470 ft
Highest Point
1,334 ft
~172.3 mi in
Elevation Range
487 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Marion, IA and Glenwood, IA, road signs point toward Des Moines and Omaha Nebraska.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 268.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 124.6 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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.
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 Glenwood, 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. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 112.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 130.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Glenwood, IA before the return drive.
