People travelling the Oodnadatta Track will be pleased to be back on sealed road at Marla. People travelling the Stuart Highway between Alice Springs and Adelaide will find Marla a surprisingly developed service centre.
There is no development in Marla except for the service centre, which is rather sterile. The Australian outback surrounds the town. Across the highway from the service centre, the Ghan train line stretches as far as the eye can see in each direction.
There is a food outlet and small supermarket here selling food and drinks as part of the service complex.
There is a modern motel as part of the service complex at Marla.