Origin
Clarion, IA
Late night in Clarion on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clarion, IA to Ames, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
59.3 mi
95 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clarion, IA
MART PRODUCTION
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Clarion, IA to Ames, IA is 59.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 15 minutes via I 35 and US 69, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive primarily within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Iowa. Expect a mostly highway-focused experience, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. Plan for a quick and efficient journey between these two Iowa locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 32.7 mi | 35m |
| US 69 | 15 mi | 20m |
| 220th Street | 4 mi | 5m |
| 190th Street | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| East 13th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Central Avenue West | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| I 35 Business | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 13th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 32.7 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarion, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on IA 3
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue West
2
Continue on IA 3
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
220th Street
3
Turn right onto US 69
15 mi
·
20 min
·
US 69
4
Turn left onto CR D20
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
190th Street
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward Somerset Road
6
Merge onto I 35
33 mi
·
35 min
·
I 35
7
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 35 Business
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
8
Turn right onto I 35 Business
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East 13th Street
9
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.6 miles from Clarion, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 56.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
4.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 69
Turn right onto US 69
Navigation decision point
4
19.9 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
CR D20 / 190th Street
Turn left onto CR D20 / 190th Street
Navigation decision point
4
23.3 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the ramp toward Somerset Road
Navigation decision point
Toward Somerset Road
3
23.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
56.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
I 35 Business
Take the exit onto I 35 Business toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.27 one way
$18.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.41 | $22.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.09 | $26.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.19 | $2.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.7 | 0 | $8.30 | $3.80 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Ames, IA
Late night in Ames on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
1h 15m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 81% of the journey taking place on major roadways like I 35 and US 69. You'll experience an uninterrupted stretch of 32.7 miles on I 35, offering a consistent pace. The drive transitions from I 35 to US 69, providing a mix of interstate speeds and slightly slower highway travel as you approach your destination. The character remains largely focused on efficient travel with minimal scenic detours, making it a predictable drive.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.7 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 69. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in near US 69.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Clarion, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 1h 15m with 81% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles (US 69): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles (CR D20 / 190th Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Ames, IA
Full guide →Founded 1864
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...
- • Ames City Hall — United States historic place
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 59.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.7 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 4.9 miles (US 69): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles (CR D20 / 190th Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ames, IA before heading back.
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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