How far is Marion, IA from Iowa City, IA?

The driving distance from Marion, IA to Iowa City, IA is about 33.5 miles (53.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 26 miles (41.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
33.49 mi
00h 47m
Flight
26.01 mi
41.86 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Marion.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
26.01 mi
Kilometers
41.86 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
33.49 mi
Kilometers
53.9 km
Drive Time
00h 47m

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 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Iowa City
Sun, May 31, 8:56 AM CDT
Return by in Marion
Sun, May 31, 9:43 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Marion
2026-05-31T08:08
Arrive Iowa City
Sun, May 31, 8:56 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:47 AM to 10:47 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:56 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Marion
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Shueyville
IA

City in Johnson County, Iowa, United States

From Marion
17.2 mi
00h 23m
To Iowa City
16.3 mi
00h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SE
Destination
81°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Marion and Iowa City.

  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

    1.5 km · 1 min · Collins Road Northeast

  10. 10

    Turn left onto C Avenue Northeast

    43 m · 3 sec · C Avenue Northeast

  11. 11

    Turn slight right onto Old Marion Road Northeast

    1.5 km · 2 min · Old Marion Road Northeast

  12. 12

    Continue on Oakland Road Northeast

    1.6 km · 2 min · Oakland Road Northeast

  13. 13

    Turn right onto 29th Street Northeast

    1411 ft · 30 sec · 29th Street Northeast

  14. 14

    Continue on Coldstream Avenue Northeast

    628 ft · 22 sec · Coldstream Avenue Northeast

  15. 15

    Turn left

    1278 ft · 31 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    21.5 mi · 25 min · Avenue of the Saints

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80

    1362 ft · 33 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Davenport

    1.2 mi · 3 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    4.2 mi · 5 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

    2061 ft · 53 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right onto North Dubuque Street

    1.5 km · 3 min · North Dubuque Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Kimball Road

    145 m · 21 sec · Kimball Road

  23. 23

    Keep slight right to continue on North Gilbert Street

    1.3 km · 3 min · North Gilbert Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Gilbert Street

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
71.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
21.5 mi · 64%
I 80 East
5.42 mi · 16%
Oakland Road Northeast
0.97 mi · 3%
North Dubuque Street
0.95 mi · 3%
Collins Road Northeast
0.94 mi · 3%
Old Marion Road Northeast
0.93 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Avenue of the Saints

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

21.5 mi · 00h 25m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 47m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.5 mi
26 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Shueyville
00h 23m from Marion
Leave By
4:56 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy leaving Marion and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy near Iowa City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Marion to Iowa City?

The road trip is about 33.5 miles (53.9 km) and usually takes 00h 47m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Shueyville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 17.2 miles from Marion and 16.3 miles from Iowa City.

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

The direct path is about 26 miles (41.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:56 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.45 one way or $8.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy around Marion and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy near Iowa City.

Stop Ideas Near Shueyville

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

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

BUS

Davenport, Iowa

96 mi away
304 West River Drive
RAIL

Mount Pleasant

98 mi away
418 North Adams Street
BUS

Rock Island, IL

99 mi away
3500 5th Avenue
BUS

Moline, Illinois

105 mi away
1200 River Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Marion and Iowa City. Straight-line distance: 26.01 mi (41.86 km).

Marion

#1 Marion

The county seat of Linn County, Iowa.

Population40,780
Coordinates42.0341700, -91.5976800
Altitude259
CountryUnited States
Iowa City

#2 Iowa City

The most populous city in Johnson County, Iowa.

Population75,130
Coordinates41.6611300, -91.5301700
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Start: 8th Avenue (-91.59768, 42.03419)
End: South Gilbert Street (-91.530165, 41.661126)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 54 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 40m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.18 gal
4.47 L · about $4.45
Round trip
$8.90
2.36 gal · 8.94 L
Estimated CO2
10.5 kg one way
Round trip: 21 kg / 46 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.45 $8.90
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.02 $10.04
Premium $4.65 $5.49 $10.98
Diesel $5.30 $6.26 $12.52

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Marion and Iowa City. The current time is 08:08:52.

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.