Ames to Clarksville is 95.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 59 minutes via I 35 Business and State Highway 3, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, making it a straightforward journey through the Midwest. Expect a highway-focused drive, making it a good option for a quick transit or a relaxed day trip. With no planned stops and a relatively short duration, this route offers flexibility for when you want to depart and how you manage your time on the road.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.7 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35 Business
51.8 mi
55m
State Highway 3
18.1 mi
24m
210th Street
15.7 mi
21m
13th Street
2.7 mi
5m
Central Avenue West
2.1 mi
4m
State Highway 188
1.8 mi
2m
South Street
1.7 mi
2m
South Main Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35 Business
— 51.8 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Clarksville, IA.
1
Start on I 35 Business
2.7 mi·5 min·13th Street
2
Turn left onto I 35 Business
52 mi·55 min·I 35 Business
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
3
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward IA 3: Hampton, Clarion
4
Turn right onto IA 3
8.9 mi·12 min·State Highway 3
5
Continue on IA 3
2.1 mi·4 min·Central Avenue West
6
Continue on IA 3
8.2 mi·11 min·State Highway 3
7
Continue on IA 3
1.8 mi·2 min·210th Street
8
Continue on IA 3
1.7 mi·2 min·South Street
9
Continue on IA 3
7.4 mi·10 min·210th Street
10
Continue on IA 3; IA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 3
11
Continue on IA 3
6.5 mi·8 min·210th Street
12
Turn left onto IA 188
1.8 mi·2 min·State Highway 188
13
Continue on IA 188
1.0 mi·1 min·South Main Street
14
Turn right onto East Superior Street
37 ft·0 sec·East Superior Street
15
Arrive at destination
East Superior Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of under 2 hours, this route from Ames to Clarksville is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for a flexible departure time. You won't need to plan for overnight stays, and with a fuel cost estimated at $15, budgeting is straightforward. While there are no specific stops noted, consider taking a short break about halfway through, perhaps after the 51.8-mile stretch on I 35 Business, to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition from I 35 Business to State Highway 3; ensure you have enough for the final leg.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.7 miles from Ames, IA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.7 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ames, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ames, IA
This is one driving day of about 95.3 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Ames, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 Business for about 51.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 95.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in|I 35 Business
Turn left onto I 35 Business toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
5
54.4 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward IA 3: Hampton, Clarion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 3: Hampton, Clarion
3
54.9 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|IA 3 / State Highway 3
Turn right onto IA 3 / State Highway 3
Navigation decision point
3
92.5 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|IA 188 / State Highway 188
Turn left onto IA 188 / State Highway 188
Navigation decision point
4
95.3 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|East Superior Street
Turn right onto East Superior Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.90 one way
$29.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.36
$32.72
premium
$4.89
$18.34
$36.68
diesel
$5.61
$21.04
$42.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.6
0
$10.01
$4.57
Efficient EV
23.8
0
$8.34
$3.81
EV Truck/SUV
38.1
0
$13.34
$6.10
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Ames, IA
Late night
in Ames on Tuesday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clarksville, IA
Late night
in Clarksville on Tuesday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
19 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 59m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 75% of the journey on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 51.8 miles on I 35 Business, offering a consistent pace. The drive transitions through various roads including I 35 Business, State Highway 3, and 210th Street, suggesting a mix of primary highway travel and potentially some more localized road segments as you approach your destination. It's designed for efficient travel rather than a winding scenic tour.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.8 mi on I 35 Business.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 Business and State Highway 3. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 35 Business.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ames, IA to Clarksville, IA is easy. At 1h 59m with 75% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 35 Business): Navigation decision point; at 54.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.9 miles (IA 3 / State Highway 3): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ames, IA to Clarksville, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Clarion along the way.
Ames is a pleasant college town in Central Iowa, sitting astride the Skunk River roughly 30 miles north of Des Moines. Life in Ames follows the ebb and flow of the academic year at Iowa State University, which is the city's primary draw.
Top landmarks
•Catt Hall — building on Iowa State University's campus, U.S.
•Food Sciences Building — historic building on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, United S...
The longest stretch is about 51.8 miles on I 35 Business. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 35 Business): Navigation decision point; at 54.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.9 miles (IA 3 / State Highway 3): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clarksville, IA before heading back.
