Marion, IA to Spirit Lake, IA is 252.6 miles and takes about 5h 20m via Avenue of the Saints and US Highway 169, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region of the east to the Midwest region of the west. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll spend most of your time on surface roads, making it a more leisurely pace than a pure interstate cruise. Consider this route if you prefer a more grounded experience over high-speed highway travel.
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
126.3 miles from Marion, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
139.5 mi
2h 36m
State Highway 9
52 mi
1h 14m
US Highway 169
6.4 mi
8m
430th Street
6.1 mi
9m
400th Street
5.7 mi
7m
I 380
5.6 mi
7m
US Highway 71
5.5 mi
7m
230th Avenue
5.2 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 139.5 mi, about 2h 36m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,102 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,328
Quietest
2 AM
~74 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Spirit Lake, 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 right at fork onto I 380
5.6 mi·7 min·I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
16
Continue on US 218
0.2 mi·18 sec·West Washington Expressway
17
Continue on US 218
0.7 mi·51 sec·Leo P Rooff Expressway
18
Continue on US 218
1.3 mi·1 min·West Washington Street
19
Continue on US 218
1.4 mi·1 min·Leo P Rooff Expressway
20
Take the exit onto US 218
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 218
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218
0.5 mi·58 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
22
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
93 mi·1 hr 46 min·Avenue of the Saints
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
24
Turn left onto IA 9
1.1 mi·1 min·State Highway 9
25
Continue on IA 9
0.5 mi·38 sec·North Street
26
Continue on IA 9
0.5 mi·40 sec·360th Street
27
Continue on IA 9
2.3 mi·3 min·Evergreen Avenue
28
Continue on IA 9
5.0 mi·6 min·State Highway 9
29
Turn right onto CR R74
5.2 mi·7 min·230th Avenue
30
Turn left onto CR A38
5.7 mi·7 min·400th Street
31
At end of road, turn right onto US 69; IA 9
2.0 mi·2 min·170th Avenue
32
Turn left onto IA 9
16 mi·22 min·State Highway 9
Use the straight lane.
33
Continue on IA 9
0.5 mi·1 min·1st Avenue East
34
Continue on IA 9
6.8 mi·9 min·State Highway 9
35
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 9
385 ft·6 sec·State Highway 9
36
Continue on US 169; IA 9
6.4 mi·8 min·US Highway 169
37
Continue on IA 9
4.6 mi·6 min·State Highway 9
38
Continue on IA 9
0.7 mi·58 sec·4th Avenue West
39
Continue on IA 9
6.1 mi·9 min·430th Street
40
Continue on IA 9
3.1 mi·4 min·4th Avenue
41
Continue on IA 9
15 mi·22 min·State Highway 9
42
Continue on IA 9
2.9 mi·4 min·East Central Avenue
43
Continue on IA 9
3.3 mi·4 min·State Highway 9
44
Continue on IA 9
1.4 mi·2 min·Highway 9
45
Continue on IA 9
0.8 mi·1 min·1st Avenue
46
Continue on IA 9
2.0 mi·2 min·150th Street
47
Continue on US 71; IA 9
5.5 mi·7 min·US Highway 71
48
Continue on US 71; IA 9
0.3 mi·54 sec·18th Street
49
Turn left onto Hill Avenue
156 ft·5 sec·Hill Avenue
50
Arrive at destination
Hill Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5h 20m drive, leaving Marion, IA in the morning allows you to arrive in Spirit Lake, IA with plenty of daylight. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops. The longest stretch without a major road change is 139.5 miles, so plan your first significant break after that point. With a fuel cost estimated at $39, keep an eye on your tank, especially before heading into longer stretches on surface roads where services might be less frequent. There is one recommended stop, so leverage that for stretching your legs or grabbing a quick bite.
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 126.3 miles from Marion, IA, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.5 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 56 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.3 miles or 2h 27m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spirit Lake, 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 252.6 miles and 5h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 139.5 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 177 — 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
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
6
51.4 mi into trip|~59m in|I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
6
60.9 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|US 218
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218 toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
6
177 mi into trip|~3h 30m in|IA 9 / State Highway 9
Turn left onto IA 9 / State Highway 9
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.30 one way
$74.61 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$41.18
$82.36
premium
$4.72
$46.90
$93.80
diesel
$4.80
$47.70
$95.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.8
0
$26.52
$12.12
Efficient EV
63.2
0
$22.10
$10.10
EV Truck/SUV
101
1
$35.36
$16.17
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Clear
W 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Spirit Lake, IA
Late night
in Spirit Lake on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Clear
N 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
84°F
Nashua, IA
126 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
2 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
5h 20m 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 29%, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the majority of the 252.6 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 139.5 miles along Avenue of the Saints. After this, expect to transition to more local roads. The profile is mostly surface roads, so you'll likely notice more towns and varied speed limits compared to an all-highway trip.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
50 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139.5 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 0.3 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 252.6 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 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51.4 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 20m. Total distance: 252.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139.5 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.
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 Spirit Lake, 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 9 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 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51.4 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Spirit Lake, IA before the return drive.
