How far is Altoona, IA from Marshalltown, IA?

The driving distance from Altoona, IA to Marshalltown, IA is about 42.6 miles (68.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 40.1 miles (64.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
42.59 mi
00h 45m
Flight
40.06 mi
64.47 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Altoona.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
40.06 mi
Kilometers
64.47 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
42.59 mi
Kilometers
68.54 km
Drive Time
00h 45m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Marshalltown
Sun, Apr 12, 11:38 AM CDT
Return by in Altoona
Sun, Apr 12, 12:23 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Altoona
2026-04-12T10:52
Arrive Marshalltown
Sun, Apr 12, 11:38 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:45 AM to 7:45 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:00 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Altoona
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Rhodes
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Altoona
21.3 mi
00h 22m
To Marshalltown
21.4 mi
00h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
16 to 22 mph SSW
Destination
71°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 to 24 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Altoona and Marshalltown.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Altoona and Marshalltown.

  1. 1

    Start on 1st Avenue South

    1.6 km · 2 min · 1st Avenue South

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 1st Avenue North

    33 m · 2 sec · 1st Avenue North

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto 1st Avenue North

    3028 ft · 1 min · 1st Avenue North

  4. 4

    Continue on Northeast 72nd Street

    767 ft · 15 sec · Northeast 72nd Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Grant Street South

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Grant Street South

  6. 6

    Continue on Grant Street South

    41 m · 8 sec · Grant Street South

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Northeast Hubbell Road

    33.9 mi · 40 min · Northeast Hubbell Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Marshalltown Boulevard

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Marshalltown Boulevard

  9. 9

    Continue on West Lincolnway

    2.2 mi · 4 min · West Lincolnway

  10. 10

    Continue on West Madison Street

    1644 ft · 38 sec · West Madison Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto South 3rd Street

    2231 ft · 46 sec · South 3rd Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    2675 ft · 1 min · West Main Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto North 3rd Avenue

    31 m · 2 sec · North 3rd Avenue

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 3rd Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Altoona and Marshalltown.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
14 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
32.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Northeast Hubbell Road
33.9 mi · 80%
West Lincolnway
2.23 mi · 5%
Marshalltown Boulevard
2.11 mi · 5%
Grant Street South
1.32 mi · 3%
1st Avenue South
0.99 mi · 2%
1st Avenue North
0.59 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Northeast Hubbell Road

Turn right onto Northeast Hubbell Road

33.9 mi · 00h 40m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 45m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.5 mi
40.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rhodes
00h 22m from Altoona
Leave By
7:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Altoona and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Marshalltown.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Altoona to Marshalltown?

The road trip is about 42.6 miles (68.5 km) and usually takes 00h 45m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Rhodes is a useful midpoint, sitting about 21.3 miles from Altoona and 21.4 miles from Marshalltown.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 40.1 miles (64.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:00 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.66 one way or $11.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Altoona and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Marshalltown.

Stop Ideas Near Rhodes

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Rhodes, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Rhodes.

RAIL

Osceola

110 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Ottumwa station

119 mi away
210 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Altoona and Marshalltown. Straight-line distance: 40.06 mi (64.47 km).

Altoona

#1 Altoona

City in Polk County, Iowa, United States

Population19,503
Coordinates41.6441600, -93.4646600
Altitude291
CountryUnited States
Marshalltown

#2 Marshalltown

City in Marshal County, Iowa

Population26,736
Coordinates42.0494300, -92.9079800
Altitude287
CountryUnited States
Start: 1st Avenue South (-93.464583, 41.64416)
End: North 3rd Avenue (-92.908042, 42.04943)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 69 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.5 gal
5.69 L · about $5.66
Round trip
$11.31
3 gal · 11.38 L
Estimated CO2
13.3 kg one way
Round trip: 26.7 kg / 59 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $5.66 $11.31
Mid-grade $4.25 $6.38 $12.76
Premium $4.65 $6.98 $13.96
Diesel $5.30 $7.96 $15.91

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Iowa · Apr 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Altoona and Marshalltown. The current time is 10:52:44.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.