Marshalltown to Ottumwa is 95.5 miles and takes about 2 hours 8 minutes via IA 163, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest's rolling terrain. You'll experience a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making for a straightforward and manageable drive. With only a single day recommended, it's a perfect option for a quick getaway or a connection between two points in the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.7 miles from Marshalltown, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IA 163
37.8 mi
43m
Highway T14 South
11.5 mi
15m
State Highway 224 North
9.1 mi
13m
Reed Avenue
9 mi
13m
Highway T22 South
7.2 mi
10m
Highway F62 East
3.2 mi
4m
State Highway 14
2.9 mi
4m
South Center Street
2.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
IA 163
— 37.8 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marshalltown, IA and Ottumwa, IA.
1
Start on IA 14
0.8 mi·1 min·North 3rd Avenue
2
Turn right onto IA 14
0.3 mi·29 sec·East Anson Street
3
Turn left onto IA 14
2.8 mi·4 min·South Center Street
4
Continue on IA 14
7.7 mi·11 min·Reed Avenue
5
Continue on IA 14
0.5 mi·43 sec·North Main Street
6
Continue on IA 14
1.2 mi·1 min·Reed Avenue
7
Continue on IA 14
2.9 mi·4 min·State Highway 14
8
Turn left onto IA 224
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 224 East
9
Continue on IA 224
7.0 mi·10 min·State Highway 224 North
10
Continue on IA 224
0.5 mi·41 sec·East Street
11
Continue on IA 224
2.1 mi·2 min·State Highway 224 North
12
Continue on Highway T22 South
5.1 mi·7 min·Highway T22 South
13
Continue on CR T22
2.1 mi·3 min·Highway T22 South
14
Turn right onto CR F62
3.2 mi·4 min·Highway F62 East
15
At end of road, turn left onto CR T14
11 mi·15 min·Highway T14 South
16
Continue on CR T14
2.3 mi·3 min·Main Street
17
Continue on IA 163 Bus
0.2 mi·25 sec·Oskaloosa Street
18
Turn right onto Clark Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Clark Street
19
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
20
Merge onto IA 163
38 mi·43 min·IA 163
21
Take the exit onto US 63 Business
0.4 mi·47 sec·US 63 Business
22
Turn right onto US 63 Business; IA 149
2.6 mi·3 min·Old US Highway 63
23
Continue on US 63 Business; IA 149
2.2 mi·2 min·South Wapello Street
24
Turn left onto West Fourth Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·West Fourth Street
25
Arrive at destination
West Fourth Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 8 minute drive time, this route is easily completed in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of daylight and have ample time for any unexpected delays. You won't need to split this drive, so flexibility is key. Consider filling up your fuel tank before leaving Marshalltown, as the estimated fuel cost is around $15 and while there are no specified stops, it’s always wise to be prepared. Keep an eye out for the transition from IA 163 to the surface roads; knowing this shift is coming can help you prepare for a change in driving pace.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.7 miles from Marshalltown, IA, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.8 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 21 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.7 miles or 1h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ottumwa, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Marshalltown, 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 Marshalltown, IA
This is one driving day of about 95.5 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Marshalltown, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 163 for about 37.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 52 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|IA 14 / East Anson Street
Turn right onto IA 14 / East Anson Street
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip|~1m in|IA 14 / South Center Street
Turn left onto IA 14 / South Center Street
Navigation decision point
4
16.2 mi into trip|~24m in|IA 224 / State Highway 224 East
Turn left onto IA 224 / State Highway 224 East
Navigation decision point
4
37.2 mi into trip|~55m in|CR T14 / Highway T14 South
At end of road, turn left onto CR T14 / Highway T14 South
Navigation decision point
4
52 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.93 one way
$29.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.39
$32.79
premium
$4.89
$18.38
$36.76
diesel
$5.61
$21.09
$42.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.7
0
$10.03
$4.58
Efficient EV
23.9
0
$8.36
$3.82
EV Truck/SUV
38.2
0
$13.37
$6.11
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Marshalltown, IA
Late night
in Marshalltown on Tuesday
Local time
5:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ottumwa, IA
Late night
in Ottumwa on Tuesday
Local time
5:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
5 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
2h 8m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 56% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your 95.5 miles on roads like IA 163. The longest continuous stretch on IA 163 covers 37.8 miles, offering a period of steady cruising. After the highway portions, expect to transition to surface roads, including Highway T14 South and State Highway 224 North, for the remainder of the 2 hour 8 minute drive. This profile suggests a mix of faster travel and more local road navigation.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.8 mi on IA 163.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near IA 14 / East Anson 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 2h 8m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (IA 14 / East Anson Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (IA 14 / South Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.2 miles (IA 224 / State Highway 224 East): Navigation decision point.
The longest stretch is about 37.8 miles on IA 163. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.8 miles (IA 14 / East Anson Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (IA 14 / South Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.2 miles (IA 224 / State Highway 224 East): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ottumwa, IA before heading back.
