Origin
Clarksville, IA
Morning in Clarksville on Sunday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clarksville, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 39m
Distance
130.8 mi
211 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 29m
★
6 AM
2h 40m
8 AM
3h 1m
10 AM
2h 47m
12 PM
2h 45m
3 PM
2h 48m
5 PM
3h 0m
8 PM
2h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clarksville, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Clarksville, IA to West Des Moines, IA is 130.8 miles and takes about 2 hours 39 minutes via I 35 and State Highway 3, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing the heart of Iowa on a primarily highway-focused drive. Given its manageable length and direct path, this route is ideal for a single-day journey. You'll encounter a consistent driving experience for most of the way, making it a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B without extensive planning.
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
65.4 miles from Clarksville, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 77.8 mi | 1h 24m |
| State Highway 3 | 18.2 mi | 25m |
| 210th Street | 15.7 mi | 21m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| Central Avenue East | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 188 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| South Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| 63rd Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 77.8 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarksville, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on East Superior Street
37 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Superior Street
2
Turn left onto IA 188
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
3
Continue on State Highway 188
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 188
4
At end of road, turn right onto IA 3
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
210th Street
5
Continue on IA 3; IA 14
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 3
6
Continue on IA 3
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
210th Street
7
Continue on IA 3
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Street
8
Continue on IA 3
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
210th Street
9
Continue on IA 3
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 3
10
Continue on IA 3
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Central Avenue East
11
Continue on IA 3
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 3
12
Continue on IA 3
517 ft
·
13 sec
·
Balsam Avenue
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Hampton, Clarion
14
Merge onto I 35
78 mi
·
1 hr 24 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
16
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
63rd Street
19
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vine Street
20
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Trip Plan
For this 2 hour 39 minute drive, starting in the morning will give you plenty of time and flexibility. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated around $20, you won't need to plan extensive breaks or budget heavily for gas. The longest stretch is 77.8 miles, so consider taking a quick break before or after that segment to stretch your legs. Since this is a single-day trip, keep an eye on traffic, especially as you get closer to West Des Moines, as local road conditions can vary.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.4 miles from Clarksville, IA, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.8 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 29 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.4 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clarksville, 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 Clarksville, IA
This is one driving day of about 130.8 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Clarksville, 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 77.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.4 miles from Clarksville, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.8 miles.
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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 129 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 188 / South Main Street
Turn left onto IA 188 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
40.7 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the ramp toward Hampton, Clarion
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Hampton, Clarion
5
41 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
118.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
129 mi into trip
|
~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.45 one way
$40.90 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.45 | $44.90 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.17 | $50.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.88 | $57.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.73 | $6.28 |
| Efficient EV | 32.7 | 0 | $11.45 | $5.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.3 | 0 | $18.31 | $8.37 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
West Des Moines, IA
Morning in West Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
5 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
2h 39m 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 largely defined by its highway segments, with an 82% highway share. Expect a significant portion of your drive to be on I 35. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 77.8 miles on I 35, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of State Highway 3 and 210th Street suggests a transition to more local roads as you approach your destination, potentially offering a slight change of scenery. Overall, it’s a drive that prioritizes efficiency.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.8 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and State Highway 3. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 188 / South Main Street.
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 2h 39m 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: near the start (IA 188 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clarksville, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Hampton and Clarion.
Hampton
40.7 mi in
|
~57m
Clarion
40.7 mi in
|
~57m
About the Cities
Arriving in West Des Moines, IA
Full guide →West Des Moines is a small city in Central Iowa, the largest suburb of Des Moines.
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 2h 39m. Total distance: 130.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.8 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 188 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at West Des Moines, 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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