How far is Marion, IA from Carroll, IA?

The driving distance from Marion, IA to Carroll, IA is about 174.6 miles (281 km), with a travel time of about 03h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 167.7 miles (269.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 11m 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
174.61 mi
03h 35m
Flight
167.74 mi
269.95 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Marion.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
167.74 mi
Kilometers
269.95 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
174.61 mi
Kilometers
281 km
Drive Time
03h 35m

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 03h 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Carroll
Sun, Apr 12, 6:09 PM CDT
Return by in Marion
Sun, Apr 12, 9:44 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Marion
2026-04-12T14:33
Arrive Carroll
Sun, Apr 12, 6:09 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:36 AM to 11:36 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:48 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Marion
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
State Center
IA

City in Marshall County, Iowa, United States of America

From Marion
87.1 mi
01h 47m
To Carroll
87.5 mi
01h 47m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph S
Destination
75°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
18 to 23 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 8th Avenue

    136 m · 23 sec · 8th Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 10th Street

    98 m · 13 sec · 10th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 7th Avenue

    880 ft · 22 sec · 7th Avenue

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    31 m · 4 sec

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout

    40 m · 6 sec

  6. 6

    Continue on 7th Avenue

    1828 ft · 48 sec · 7th Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on Marion Boulevard

    1 km · 1 min · Marion Boulevard

  8. 8

    Continue on 1st Avenue East

    621 ft · 19 sec · 1st Avenue East

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Collins Road Northeast

    11.2 mi · 13 min · Collins Road Northeast

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown

    1.2 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto 16th Avenue Southwest

    2.4 mi · 3 min · 16th Avenue Southwest

  12. 12

    Continue on 73rd Street

    24.4 mi · 28 min · 73rd Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Lincoln Highway

    78.3 mi · 1 hr 31 min · Lincoln Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on 220th Street

    43.6 mi · 58 min · 220th Street

  15. 15

    Continue on County Road N33

    10.3 mi · 14 min · County Road N33

  16. 16

    Continue on US 30

    2.3 mi · 4 min · US 30

  17. 17

    Turn right

    23 m · 11 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left

    39 m · 10 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
19 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Lincoln Highway
78.3 mi · 45%
220th Street
43.6 mi · 25%
73rd Street
24.4 mi · 14%
Collins Road Northeast
11.2 mi · 6%
County Road N33
10.3 mi · 6%
16th Avenue Southwest
2.37 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Lincoln Highway

Continue on Lincoln Highway

78.3 mi · 01h 31m

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
03h 35m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.9 mi
167.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
State Center
01h 47m from Marion
Leave By
9:48 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Marion and Rain Showers Likely near Carroll.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 174.6 miles (281 km) and usually takes 03h 35m 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?

State Center is a useful midpoint, sitting about 87.1 miles from Marion and 87.5 miles from Carroll.

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

The direct path is about 167.7 miles (269.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.9 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 9:48 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.23 one way or $46.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Marion and Rain Showers Likely near Carroll.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Marion and Carroll. Straight-line distance: 167.74 mi (269.95 km).

Marion

#1 Marion

The county seat of Linn County, Iowa.

Population40,780
Coordinates42.0341700, -91.5976800
Altitude259
CountryUnited States
Carroll

#2 Carroll

City in Carroll County, Iowa, United States

Population9,694
Coordinates42.0658200, -94.8669300
Altitude387
CountryUnited States
Start: Marion (-91.59768, 42.03417)
End: Carroll (-94.86693, 42.06582)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 281 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.16 gal
23.32 L · about $23.23
Round trip
$46.46
12.32 gal · 46.64 L
Estimated CO2
54.7 kg one way
Round trip: 109.5 kg / 241 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.23 $46.46
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.20 $52.40
Premium $4.65 $28.67 $57.34
Diesel $5.30 $32.67 $65.35

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 Marion and Carroll. The current time is 14:33:37.

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.