Marion, IA to Osceola County, IA is 286.2 miles and takes about 5h 51m via Avenue of the Saints and US 59, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Iowa. Given its mostly surface road profile, expect a more scenic and potentially slower pace compared to interstate driving. With a single recommended stop and a duration under six hours, this route is very manageable for a single day of travel, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a straightforward drive.
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
143.1 miles from Marion, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
205.8 mi
3h 54m
US 59
13.6 mi
18m
Silver Avenue
13.5 mi
19m
Roosevelt Avenue
13 mi
17m
20th Avenue
9.2 mi
12m
Armstrong Avenue
6 mi
8m
470th Street
4.1 mi
5m
530th Street
3.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 205.8 mi, about 3h 54m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,112 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,382
Quietest
2 AM
~75 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Osceola County, 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
2.2 mi·2 min·Collins Road Northeast
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·41 sec
Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north: Waterloo
12
Keep slight left at fork
286 ft·7 sec
13
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·26 sec·this road
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: WaterlooUse the straight / left lanes.
14
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
47 mi·50 min·Avenue of the Saints
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
159 mi·3 hr 3 min·Avenue of the Saints
16
Turn right onto CR M27
6.0 mi·8 min·Armstrong Avenue
17
Continue on CR M27
9.2 mi·12 min·20th Avenue
18
Turn left onto IA 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 7
19
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi·2 min·State Highway 7
20
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi·2 min·1st Street
21
Continue on IA 7
1.9 mi·2 min·V Avenue
22
Turn left onto IA 3
0.2 mi·22 sec·State Highway 3
23
Turn straight onto IA 3
3.1 mi·4 min·530th Street
24
Turn right onto IA 3
2.7 mi·3 min·State Highway 3
25
Turn right onto US 59
14 mi·18 min·US 59
26
Turn left onto US 59; IA 10
4.1 mi·5 min·470th Street
27
Continue on US 59; IA 10
7.2 mi·9 min·Silver Avenue
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on US 59
1.6 mi·2 min·South Rerick Avenue
29
Continue on US 59
6.0 mi·8 min·Silver Avenue
30
Turn left onto US 18; US 59
1.0 mi·1 min·320th Street
31
Turn right onto US 59
13 mi·17 min·Roosevelt Avenue
32
Turn right onto 190th Street
1.0 mi·3 min·190th Street
33
Turn left onto Silver Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Silver Avenue
34
Arrive at destination
Silver Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 286.2-mile trip, departing in the morning should give you ample time to reach Osceola County, IA, well before evening. Since the total duration is under six hours and only one stop is recommended, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially when you're on the surface roads, as gas stations might be less frequent than on major interstates. The $45 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but it's always wise to budget a little extra. Consider making your single stop around the halfway point to break up the drive.
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 143.1 miles from Marion, IA, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 205.8 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 63 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.1 miles or 2h 45m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Osceola County, 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 286.2 miles and 5h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 205.8 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 4.1 — 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
3.6 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380, IA 27: Iowa City, Waterloo
6
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I-380 north, IA 27 north: Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north: Waterloo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.74 one way
$95.48 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$51.89
$103.78
premium
$5.26
$59.26
$118.51
diesel
$6.18
$69.62
$139.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.9
1
$30.05
$13.74
Efficient EV
71.6
0
$25.04
$11.45
EV Truck/SUV
114.5
1
$40.07
$18.32
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 19, 2026
Origin
Marion, IA
Night
in Marion on Monday
Local time
10:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Osceola County, IA
Night
in Osceola County on Monday
Local time
10:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
68°F
Gilbert, IA
143 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
27 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
5h 51m 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 is mostly on surface roads, with only about 7% of the 286.2 miles on highways. You'll spend the majority of your time cruising on roads like Avenue of the Saints and Silver Avenue. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 205.8 miles along Avenue of the Saints, so plan for that section to feel more like traditional highway driving before transitioning to more rural roads. Expect frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you navigate through towns and countryside.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 205.8 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort5/10
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 286.2 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 51m. Total distance: 286.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (7%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 205.8 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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.
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 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Osceola County, IA before the return drive.
