How far is Clarinda, IA from Marion, IA?

The driving distance from Clarinda, IA to Marion, IA is about 250.4 miles (403 km), with a travel time of about 04h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 199.5 miles (321 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 18m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
250.44 mi
04h 09m
Flight
199.48 mi
321.04 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clarinda.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
199.48 mi
Kilometers
321.04 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
250.44 mi
Kilometers
403.05 km
Drive Time
04h 09m

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 04h 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Marion
Wed, Apr 29, 8:48 PM CDT
Return by in Clarinda
Thu, Apr 30, 12:57 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clarinda
2026-04-29T16:39
Arrive Marion
Wed, Apr 29, 8:48 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:09 AM to 12:09 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:42 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Clarinda
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Urbandale
IA

A city in Polk County, Iowa.

From Clarinda
125.1 mi
02h 04m
To Marion
125.4 mi
02h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
39°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 mph NNW
Destination
43°F
Overnight

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 3:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Clarinda and Marion.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clarinda and Marion.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    11 m · 5 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North 16th Street

    59 m · 9 sec · North 16th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Washington Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · East Washington Street

  4. 4

    Continue on 210 Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · 210 Street

  5. 5

    Turn left

    46.4 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  6. 6

    Turn right onto East 7th Street

    2 mi · 3 min · East 7th Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto 650th Street

    6.4 mi · 9 min · 650th Street

  8. 8

    Take the exit right

    62 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City

    14.4 mi · 17 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    4.5 mi · 5 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant

    2428 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road

    33.5 mi · 39 min · Northeast Hubbell Road

  14. 14

    Take the exit right

    2792 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway

    37 mi · 43 min · Lincoln Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on 73rd Street

    26.8 mi · 31 min · 73rd Street

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion

    1.6 km · 2 min

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    9.4 mi · 11 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on Collins Road Northeast

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Collins Road Northeast

  20. 20

    Turn left onto 1st Avenue East

    717 ft · 22 sec · 1st Avenue East

  21. 21

    Continue on Marion Boulevard

    1 km · 1 min · Marion Boulevard

  22. 22

    Continue on 7th Avenue

    1664 ft · 46 sec · 7th Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn left onto 6th Street

    96 m · 18 sec · 6th Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto 8th Avenue

    1702 ft · 1 min · 8th Avenue

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 8th Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Clarinda and Marion.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
25 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
650th Street
68.4 mi · 27%
Lincoln Highway
37 mi · 15%
Northeast Hubbell Road
34 mi · 14%
73rd Street
26.8 mi · 11%
I 35
18.9 mi · 8%
IA 100 East
10.4 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

650th Street

Take the exit right

62 mi · 01h 07m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 09m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.9 mi
199.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Urbandale
02h 04m from Clarinda
Leave By
8:42 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Clarinda and Chance Rain Showers near Marion.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Clarinda to Marion?

The road trip is about 250.4 miles (403 km) and usually takes 04h 09m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Urbandale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 125.1 miles from Clarinda and 125.4 miles from Marion.

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

The direct path is about 199.5 miles (321 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.9 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:42 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.34 one way or $66.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Clarinda and Chance Rain Showers near Marion.

Stop Ideas Near Urbandale

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Urbandale, 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 Urbandale.

RAIL

Osceola

66 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

83 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clarinda and Marion. Straight-line distance: 199.48 mi (321.04 km).

Clarinda

#1 Clarinda

City in Iowa

Population5,366
Coordinates40.7398100, -95.0380000
Altitude318
CountryUnited States
Marion

#2 Marion

The county seat of Linn County, Iowa.

Population40,780
Coordinates42.0341700, -91.5976800
Altitude259
CountryUnited States
Start: (-95.038, 40.739814)
End: 8th Avenue (-91.59768, 42.03419)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 403 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 00m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.84 gal
33.45 L · about $33.34
Round trip
$66.67
17.68 gal · 66.9 L
Estimated CO2
78.6 kg one way
Round trip: 157.1 kg / 346 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $33.34 $66.67
Mid-grade $4.25 $37.60 $75.19
Premium $4.65 $41.14 $82.28
Diesel $5.30 $46.89 $93.77

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 29, 2026

There is no time difference between Clarinda and Marion. The current time is 16:39:05.

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.