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Trip from Charles City, IA to Indiana, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 44m

Distance

193.6 mi

312 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 32m ★
6 AM
3h 44m
8 AM
4h 10m
10 AM
3h 53m
12 PM
3h 51m
3 PM
3h 55m
5 PM
4h 8m
8 PM
3h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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seat of Floyd County, Iowa, United States

Charles City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Indiana, IA, IA

Indiana, IA

Kelly

Trip Overview

This 193.6-mile journey from Charles City, IA, to Indiana, IA, is comfortably manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 44 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on I-35, IA-5, and the Avenue of the Saints, with a significant 73% of the drive on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $30 for this Midwest to Midwest excursion. The overall feel is a straightforward, highway-focused drive, making it a practical option for a quick getaway or an efficient leg of a larger road trip. With just one recommended stop, this route prioritizes getting you to your destination with minimal fuss.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

96.8 miles from Charles City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35 102.9 mi 1h 51m
IA 5 35.4 mi 42m
Avenue of the Saints 32.9 mi 37m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway 10.7 mi 12m
I 80 2.6 mi 2m
Gilbert Street 2.5 mi 4m
County Highway G76 2 mi 3m
US 218 Business 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 35 — 102.9 mi, about 1h 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charles City, IA and Indiana, IA.

1

Start on US 18

31 ft · 2 sec · 4th Avenue
2

Continue on US 18

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Brantingham Street
3

Turn right onto Clark Street

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Clark Street
4

Turn left onto North Main Street

0.2 mi · 38 sec · North Main Street
5

Turn right onto US 218 Business

2.5 mi · 4 min · Gilbert Street
6

Turn straight onto US 218 Business

0.2 mi · 13 sec · 185th Street
7

Take the ramp onto US 218 Business

0.3 mi · 41 sec · US 218 Business
8

Merge onto US 18; US 218; IA 27

33 mi · 37 min · Avenue of the Saints
9

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
10

Continue on this road

0.5 mi · 32 sec · this road
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
11

Merge onto I 35

103 mi · 1 hr 50 min · I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35

0.2 mi · 12 sec · I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
13

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 2 min
Exit 137A Toward I 80 East: Davenport
14

Merge onto I 80

2.6 mi · 2 min · I 80
15

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 141 Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines Use the slight right lane.
16

Merge onto US 65

11 mi · 12 min · Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
18

Continue on IA 5

19 mi · 21 min · IA 5
19

Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92

11 mi · 11 min · IA 5; IA 92
20

Take the exit onto IA 5

0.5 mi · 1 min · IA 5
21

Turn right onto IA 5

5.8 mi · 8 min · IA 5
22

Turn sharp right onto CR G76

0.2 mi · 24 sec · County Highway G76
23

Continue on CR G76

1.9 mi · 3 min · County Highway G76
24

Arrive at destination

CR G76

Trip Plan

Given the 3 hour and 44 minute duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day adventure. Consider departing in the morning to allow ample time for your journey and any unexpected delays. With a fuel cost estimated at $30 and only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. The longest stretch without needing to exit is over 100 miles on I-35, so ensure you have a full tank before embarking on that segment. Planning for a mid-drive break around the halfway point will help keep you refreshed for the remainder of the drive.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 96.8 miles from Charles City, IA, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.9 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 43 miles or 52m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 96.8 miles or 1h 50m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 1m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indiana, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Charles City, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Charles City, IA

This is one driving day of about 193.6 miles and 3h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Charles City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 102.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Story County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ames, IA

97 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Clear Lake, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ames, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 96.8 miles from Charles City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.9 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Now Or Later Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 152.1

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+15152669777

Visit website

Burger Shed Restaurant Altoona

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 138.3

Altoona, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15156307433

Visit website

Tsing Tsao Chinese Fast Food

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour Inexpensiv mile 152.1

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+15152622775

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 69.1

Dows, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Charles City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 83

Williams, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15155160821

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 110.6

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

2.7 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 27.7

Mason City, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

EVgo Car Charging Station

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 83

Williams, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 110.6

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Charles City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Casey's Truck Stop

0.2 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

I-35 Dows Rest Stop

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Rest Area

0.3 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

1 mi from route

QuikTrip

1 mi from route

Service Plaza

2.1 mi from route

Center Grove Orchard

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 124.5

Cambridge, Iowa

Hours: 9 am–7 pm

+15153834354

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 144.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Clark Street

Turn right onto Clark Street

Navigation decision point

5
37.9 mi into trip | ~47m in | I 35

Merge onto I 35

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
140.6 mi into trip | ~2h 37m in | I 35

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
5
140.8 mi into trip | ~2h 38m in

Take the exit toward I 80 East: Davenport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 137A Toward I 80 East: Davenport
8
144.2 mi into trip | ~2h 43m in

Take the exit toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 141 Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.27 one way

$60.53 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 68 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $33.23 $66.46
premium $4.89 $37.26 $74.51
diesel $5.61 $42.74 $85.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 67.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 58.1 0 $20.33 $9.29
Efficient EV 48.4 0 $16.94 $7.74
EV Truck/SUV 77.4 0 $27.10 $12.39

Gas CO2

68 kg

EV CO2

23 kg (66% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Charles City, IA

Late night in Charles City on Sunday

Local time

5:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Indiana, IA

Late night in Indiana on Sunday

Local time

5:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°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

22 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 44m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Prepare for a highway-focused drive where interstates play a major role, accounting for 73% of your mileage. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a substantial 102.9 miles on I-35, offering a consistent pace. While the Avenue of the Saints provides a change of scenery, much of this route keeps you moving at highway speeds. The road is designed for efficient travel, with clear signage and minimal complex intersections, ensuring a predictable driving experience. You'll find this to be a route built for covering ground rather than lingering on scenic byways.

73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.9 mi on I 35.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and IA 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Clark Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 193.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Clark Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 140.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Charles City, IA and Indiana, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport and Des Moines.

Council Bluffs

140.6 mi in | ~2h 37m | via I 35

Davenport

140.6 mi in | ~2h 37m | via I 35

Des Moines

144.2 mi in | ~2h 43m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 193.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 102.9 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 13 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.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Indiana, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Clark Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 140.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Indiana, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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