Origin
Marion, IA
Morning in Marion on Sunday
Local time
9:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marion, IA to Iowa City, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
34.4 mi
55 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marion, IA
Joanna Bogacz
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Marion to Iowa City, you are looking at a quick 33.5-mile journey through the heart of the Midwest. Expect to spend about 47 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel cost of just $5, it is an incredibly budget-friendly excursion between these two Iowa communities. You will navigate primarily via 10th Street, 7th Avenue, and local connectors rather than relying on major interstate highways. Because the route is entirely local, it offers a straightforward connection without the complexity of long-haul travel. It is a practical choice for those who prefer avoiding high-speed traffic in favor of a direct, familiar path.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 21.5 mi | 24m |
| I 80 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| Oakland Road Northeast | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Dubuque Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Collins Road Northeast | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Old Marion Road Northeast | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Gilbert Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Marion Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 21.5 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marion, IA and Iowa City, 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 left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
19
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
I 80
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Downtown
21
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Dubuque Street
22
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kimball Road
23
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Gilbert Street
24
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.2 miles from Marion, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 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 left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.38 one way
$10.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.90 | $11.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.62 | $13.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.60 | $15.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Morning in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
9:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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
48m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive has a distinctively turn-heavy, local personality that keeps you engaged throughout the 33.5-mile transit. Since the highway share is 0%, you won't encounter the monotony of long interstate stretches; instead, the route demands your full attention as you transition between local roads. You will find that there is no single long stretch, with 0 miles spent on 10th Street in a straight line, emphasizing the constant navigation required. The road feel is consistent with regional local driving, prioritizing accessibility over speed. You should prepare for a steady, hands-on driving experience that changes pace frequently as you navigate from Marion to Iowa City.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.5 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 10th Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 34.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
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.
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 Iowa City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
32.1 mi in
|
~42m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 34.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.5 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Iowa City, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Iowa City, IA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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