Spanning 285.6 miles across the heart of the Midwest, this trek from Osceola County to Marion is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 45 minutes of driving time. Because the route is designed as a single-day trip, you can easily complete it in one go without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $42 for fuel to cover the distance, assuming standard vehicle efficiency. Since the path relies on local roads rather than major interstates, prepare for a more hands-on experience behind the wheel. It is a practical option for travelers looking to navigate Iowa’s interior, though you should plan for at least one stop to break up the 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 Osceola County, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
164.9 mi
3h 10m
Avenue of the Saints
40.7 mi
43m
Silver Avenue
13.5 mi
19m
County Highway A30
13 mi
17m
20th Avenue
9.2 mi
12m
Railroad Street
6.6 mi
9m
Armstrong Avenue
6 mi
8m
470th Street
4.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 164.9 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Osceola County, IA and Marion, IA.
1
Start on Silver Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Silver Avenue
2
Turn right onto 190th Street
1.0 mi·3 min·190th Street
3
Turn left onto US 59
13 mi·17 min·County Highway A30
4
Turn left onto US 18; US 59
1.0 mi·1 min·320th Street
5
Turn right onto US 59
6.0 mi·8 min·Silver Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on US 59
1.6 mi·2 min·North Rerick Avenue
7
Continue on US 59
7.2 mi·9 min·Silver Avenue
8
Continue on US 59; IA 10
4.1 mi·5 min·470th Street
9
Turn right onto US 59
4.0 mi·5 min·Tanager Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on US 59
3.1 mi·4 min·Q Avenue
11
Continue on US 59
6.6 mi·9 min·Railroad Street
12
Turn left onto IA 3
2.7 mi·3 min·State Highway 3
13
Turn left onto IA 3
3.4 mi·4 min·530th Street
14
Turn right onto IA 7
2.0 mi·2 min·V Avenue
15
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi·2 min·1st Street
16
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi·2 min·State Highway 7
17
Continue on IA 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 7
18
Turn right onto 20th Avenue
9.2 mi·12 min·20th Avenue
19
Continue on CR M27
6.0 mi·8 min·Armstrong Avenue
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 20
165 mi·3 hr 10 min·220th Street
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
41 mi·43 min·Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward IA 100
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·19 sec
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·27 sec
Toward IA 100
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
26
Turn left
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 east: Waterloo, MarionUse the straight lane.
27
Merge onto IA 100
0.3 mi·29 sec·Collins Road Northeast
28
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
1.8 mi·2 min·Collins Road Northeast
29
Turn left onto 1st Avenue East
0.1 mi·22 sec·1st Avenue East
30
Continue on Marion Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·Marion Boulevard
31
Continue on US 151 Business
0.3 mi·45 sec·7th Avenue
32
Turn left onto 6th Street
316 ft·17 sec·6th Street
33
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·8th Avenue
34
Arrive at destination
8th Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour and 45-minute journey, try to depart early in the morning to avoid fatigue while navigating the more complex local roads. Since you only have one planned stop along the way, use that break strategically to rest your eyes and stretch after navigating the frequent turns. Keep your eyes on your GPS and local signage, as the reliance on rural roads like 190th Street and 320th Street means you will need to stay vigilant at intersections. Having your $42 fuel budget ready before you head out will ensure you don't have to scramble for gas stations in unfamiliar areas. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so don't hesitate to pull over if you need extra time to manage the route's turn-heavy profile.
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 Osceola County, IA, or about 3h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 164.9 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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.1 miles or 3h 6m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marion, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Osceola County, 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 Osceola County, IA
This is one driving day of about 286.1 miles and 5h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Osceola County, 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 220th Street for about 164.9 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.3 and 281.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
15.3 mi into trip|~24m in|US 59 / Silver Avenue
Turn right onto US 59 / Silver Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
34.2 mi into trip|~50m in|US 59 / Tanager Avenue
Turn right onto US 59 / Tanager Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
240.5 mi into trip|~4h 58m in|I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
7
281.8 mi into trip|~5h 44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
7
281.9 mi into trip|~5h 44m in
Turn left toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 east: Waterloo, Marion
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 east: W...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.73 one way
$89.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$49.11
$98.22
premium
$4.89
$55.06
$110.11
diesel
$5.61
$63.17
$126.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
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, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.8
1
$30.04
$13.73
Efficient EV
71.5
0
$25.03
$11.44
EV Truck/SUV
114.4
1
$40.05
$18.31
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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Osceola County, IA
Evening
in Osceola County on Saturday
Local time
8:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Marion, IA
Evening
in Marion on Saturday
Local time
8:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
1 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 52m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that trades the monotony of high-speed interstates for a more deliberate pace through the Iowa countryside. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be cruising on major expressways, so prepare for frequent turns and a focus on navigation. Your path will primarily follow 190th Street, County Highway A30, and 320th Street, which demand more attention than a typical highway route. Because you are avoiding major thoroughfares, the road personality is defined by these local connectors rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. Stay alert, as the winding nature of these roads makes this a driving-intensive experience compared to standard transit routes.
Only 2% 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: 164.9 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 15.3 miles in near US 59 / Silver Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 286.1 miles you will encounter 17 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 15.3 miles (US 59 / Silver Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.2 miles (US 59 / Tanager Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 240.5 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 52m. Total distance: 286.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 164.9 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Marion, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.3 miles (US 59 / Silver Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.2 miles (US 59 / Tanager Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 240.5 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Marion, IA before the return drive.
