The Republic of Mari El is an administrative division of Russia, located in the Middle Volga region in the European part. Its capital is Yoshkar-Ola.
The roads between Yoshkar-Ola and Cheboksary, and between Yoshkar-Ola, Volzhsk and Kazan' have steady traffic. Elsewhere, waiting times can be long than usual in Russia due to a scarcity of private cars on the road going long distances -- this is one of the poorest regions of Russia -- though you'll eventually have luck with a truck.