Connecting Waverly to Marion, this 75.5-mile journey is an straightforward trek across the Iowa Midwest that typically takes about 1 hour and 32 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited as a simple one-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your travel plans. Navigating this path involves utilizing a combination of the Avenue of the Saints, the Leo P Rooff Expressway, and I-380. Whether you are heading out for business or visiting family, the trip offers a reliable connection between these two communities without demanding too much time behind the wheel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.8 miles from Waverly, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
51.6 mi
56m
Leo P Rooff Expressway
6.7 mi
8m
I 380
6.5 mi
7m
Washington Street
2.4 mi
3m
Collins Road Northeast
2.1 mi
2m
4th Street Southwest
1.4 mi
3m
US 218 Business
0.9 mi
1m
4th Avenue Southwest
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 51.6 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waverly, IA and Marion, IA.
1
Start on IA 3
62 ft·9 sec·West Bremer Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 218 Business
1.4 mi·3 min·4th Street Southwest
3
Continue on 4th Avenue Southwest
0.7 mi·1 min·4th Avenue Southwest
4
Keep slight left at fork onto US 218 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·US 218 Business
5
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
11 mi·12 min·Avenue of the Saints
6
Take the exit
317 ft·7 sec
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
7
Continue on US 218
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
8
Merge onto US 218
6.7 mi·8 min·Leo P Rooff Expressway
9
Continue on US 218
2.4 mi·3 min·Washington Street
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
6.5 mi·7 min·I 380
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
11
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
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward IA 100
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·19 sec
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·27 sec
Toward IA 100
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Iowa City
16
Turn left
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I-380 north, IA 27 north, IA 100 east: Waterloo, MarionUse the straight lane.
17
Merge onto IA 100
0.3 mi·29 sec·Collins Road Northeast
18
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
1.8 mi·2 min·Collins Road Northeast
19
Turn left onto 1st Avenue East
0.1 mi·22 sec·1st Avenue East
20
Continue on Marion Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·Marion Boulevard
21
Continue on US 151 Business
0.3 mi·45 sec·7th Avenue
22
Turn left onto 6th Street
316 ft·17 sec·6th Street
23
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·8th Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
8th Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1 hour and 32-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever it suits your schedule without needing a complex itinerary. You won't need to plan for any formal stops along the way, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise given the $11 estimated cost for the trip. Because the route concludes with a turn-heavy local drive, aim to travel during daylight hours to ensure you can easily navigate the final transitions into Marion. Use the Avenue of the Saints for your primary speed, but stay alert as you exit the main expressway segments. Taking advantage of the short duration allows you to arrive at your destination refreshed and ready to go without the fatigue of a long-haul journey.
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 37.8 miles from Waverly, IA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.6 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.8 miles or 47m 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 16m
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 Waverly, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waverly, IA
This is one driving day of about 75.5 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Waverly, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 51.6 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 23.4 and 71.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
23.4 mi into trip|~31m in|I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids,...
6
29.9 mi into trip|~39m 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
6
71 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IA 100
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward IA 100
7
71.3 mi into trip|~1h 24m 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
71.4 mi into trip|~1h 24m 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
$11.80 one way
$23.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.96
$25.92
premium
$4.89
$14.53
$29.06
diesel
$5.61
$16.67
$33.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.7
0
$7.93
$3.62
Efficient EV
18.9
0
$6.61
$3.02
EV Truck/SUV
30.2
0
$10.57
$4.83
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Waverly, IA
Night
in Waverly on Saturday
Local time
9:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Marion, IA
Night
in Marion on Saturday
Local time
9:48 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 32m 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?
Expect a varied experience on this drive, as the route transitions from highway cruising to a more turn-heavy local feel. With only 19% of the trip spent on highways, you will spend most of your time navigating local roads rather than monotonous interstate stretches. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted segment during the 51.6-mile stretch on the Avenue of the Saints, which provides the most consistent pace of the drive. As you progress toward Marion, the road personality shifts, requiring more attention to local turns and intersections. It is a practical drive that keeps you engaged with its changing road types rather than keeping you locked into a single highway lane for the duration.
Only 19% 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: 51.6 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 23.4 miles in near I 380.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.5 miles you will encounter 16 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 23.4 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.9 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
944 ft758 ft
Total Climb
313 ft
Total Descent
381 ft
Highest Point
944 ft
~3.1 mi in
Elevation Range
186 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waverly, IA and Marion, IA, road signs point toward Dubuque and Cedar Falls.
Dubuque
23.4 mi in|~31m|via I 380
Cedar Falls
23.4 mi in|~31m|via I 380
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 75.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.6 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 Marion, 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 23.4 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.9 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Marion, IA before heading back.
