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Trip from Clarion, IA to Ankeny, IA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 37m

Distance

79.3 mi

128 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 30m ★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m

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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Downtown Clarion, IA, IA

Clarion, IA

MART PRODUCTION

city in Polk County, Iowa, United States

Ankeny, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 79.3-mile drive from Clarion, IA, to Ankeny, IA, is a straightforward 1-hour and 37-minute journey. Designed as a single-day trip, you'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it an efficient way to travel between these two Midwest locations. With an estimated fuel cost of around $12, this route is budget-friendly for a quick excursion. The highway-focused profile means you'll be covering ground efficiently, making it ideal for a day trip where you want to reach your destination without much fuss. You'll stick to Iowa's well-maintained road network for the entire trip.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

39.7 miles from Clarion, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35 53.7 mi 58m
US 69 15 mi 20m
220th Street 4 mi 5m
190th Street 3.4 mi 5m
East 1st Street 1.4 mi 3m
Central Avenue West 0.9 mi 1m
Southwest Walnut Street 0.2 mi <1m
Southwest 3rd Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 35 — 53.7 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clarion, IA and Ankeny, 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

54 mi · 58 min · I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Exit 92 Toward 1st Street
8

Keep slight right at fork

301 ft · 9 sec
9

Turn straight onto East 1st Street

1.4 mi · 3 min · East 1st Street
10

Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Southwest Walnut Street
11

Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street

48 ft · 2 sec · Southwest 3rd Street
12

Arrive at destination

Southwest 3rd Street

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 37-minute duration, this drive is perfectly suited for a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. You can leave in the morning and be at your destination by late morning, or depart in the afternoon and arrive in Ankeny with plenty of daylight. The estimated fuel cost of $12 makes it an economical trip, so consider topping off your tank before leaving Clarion. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks based on your needs; however, with I-35 being a primary road, services are generally available along the way. Keep an eye out for transitions between I-35 and US-69 as these are key points on your route.

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 39.7 miles from Clarion, IA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.7 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 17 miles or 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39.7 miles or 51m 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 21m

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

Before You Leave

+

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

Day 1

Settle into the route from Clarion, IA

This is one driving day of about 79.3 miles and 1h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Clarion, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 53.7 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

40 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

Webster City, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Story City, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.7 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

Final third 4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15154505004

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Ames, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Williams, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15155160821

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

Final third 3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Discover Ames

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–4:30 pm

+15152324032

Visit website

Center Grove Orchard

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 79.3 — 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

5
23.7 mi into trip | ~34m in | I 35

Merge onto I 35

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
77.5 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in

Take the exit toward 1st Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 92 Toward 1st Street
5
77.7 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
79.3 mi into trip | ~1h 37m in | Southwest 3rd Street

Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.40 one way

$24.80 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.61 $27.22
premium $4.89 $15.26 $30.52
diesel $5.61 $17.51 $35.02

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.8 0 $8.33 $3.81
Efficient EV 19.8 0 $6.94 $3.17
EV Truck/SUV 31.7 0 $11.10 $5.08

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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

Clarion, IA

Late night in Clarion on Tuesday

Local time

5:25 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ankeny, IA

Late night in Ankeny on Tuesday

Local time

5:25 AM

CDT

Current temp

60°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

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 37m 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?

Expect a highway-centric experience on this route, with 87% of your travel occurring on major roads like I-35 and US-69. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 53.7 miles on I-35, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. While primarily a highway drive, you will utilize local roads like 220th Street, which may offer a slight change of pace. This profile suggests a predominantly fast-paced drive, allowing you to cover the distance with minimal interruptions and steady speeds.

87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.7 mi on I 35.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 69. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in near US 69.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 37m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles (US 69): Navigation decision point; at 23.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

About the Cities

Arriving in Ankeny, IA

Full guide →

Ankeny is a suburb of Des Moines in Central Iowa.

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 37m. Total distance: 79.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 53.7 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 23.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ankeny, 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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