Connecting Clear Lake to Urbandale, this 116.4-mile trip is a straightforward journey across the Iowa heartland. You can easily complete the drive in about 2 hours and 10 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Budgeting around $18 for fuel covers the trip comfortably. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, the drive maintains a consistent regional character throughout. Whether you are heading south for business or a weekend getaway, the simplicity of this route allows for a stress-free travel experience. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Avenue of the Saints and I-35, ensuring a reliable path between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.2 miles from Clear Lake, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
105.3 mi
1h 53m
I 35
6.4 mi
7m
70th Street
1.2 mi
2m
4th Avenue South
1.1 mi
1m
Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Merle Hay Road
0.6 mi
1m
I 35 Business
0.3 mi
<1m
North 8th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 105.3 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clear Lake, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on North 6th Street
79 ft·5 sec·North 6th Street
2
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
186 ft·10 sec·1st Avenue North
3
Turn right onto I 35 Business
0.3 mi·33 sec·North 8th Street
4
Turn left onto I 35 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·4th Avenue South
5
Take the ramp onto I 35 Business
0.3 mi·43 sec·I 35 Business
Toward I 35 south, US 18 east, IA 27 south: Des Moines
6
Merge onto I 35; US 18; IA 27
105 mi·1 hr 53 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi·7 min·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 131Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville LakeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto IA 28
0.6 mi·1 min·Merle Hay Road
10
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Meredith Drive
11
Turn left onto 70th Street
1.2 mi·2 min·70th Street
12
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft·0 sec·Maryland Drive
13
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak traffic. Since there are no designated stops included in the 2-hour and 10-minute duration, plan to fuel up before you leave Clear Lake so you can make the drive in one efficient go. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the final local roads means you should stay alert as you exit the main thoroughfares. If you find yourself needing a break, look for opportunities during the long 105.3-mile stretch on the Avenue of the Saints. Prioritize checking your route map before hitting 70th Street to ensure a smooth transition into the Urbandale area.
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 58.2 miles from Clear Lake, IA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.3 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 26 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.2 miles or 1h 4m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Urbandale, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clear Lake, 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 Clear Lake, IA
This is one driving day of about 116.4 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Clear Lake, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 105.3 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 113.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|1st Avenue North
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|I 35 Business
Take the ramp onto I 35 Business toward I 35 south, US 18 east, IA 27 south: Des Moines
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 south, US 18 east, IA 27 south: Des...
5
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in|I 35; US 18; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 35; US 18; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
107.1 mi into trip|~1h 56m 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...
8
113.5 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville Lake
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 131
Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.20 one way
$36.40 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.98
$39.96
premium
$4.89
$22.40
$44.80
diesel
$5.61
$25.70
$51.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.9
0
$12.22
$5.59
Efficient EV
29.1
0
$10.19
$4.66
EV Truck/SUV
46.6
0
$16.30
$7.45
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Clear Lake, IA
Night
in Clear Lake on Saturday
Local time
11:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Night
in Urbandale on Saturday
Local time
11:24 PM
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
4 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 10m 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?
Expect a mix of driving conditions as you navigate this 116.4-mile trek. The route is dominated by a long, 105.3-mile stretch on the Avenue of the Saints, which provides the bulk of your travel time. With only 6% of the journey spent on highways, the experience transitions from open transit to a more turn-heavy local drive as you approach your destination. The final leg involves navigating 70th Street, which requires a bit more attention than the initial highway portion. You will find that the road's personality shifts from wide, consistent lanes to more localized maneuvers, keeping you engaged behind the wheel until you reach Urbandale.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105.3 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 1st Avenue North.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 10m drive. You will face about 10 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 (1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 35 Business): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (I 35; US 18; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,231 ft902 ft
Total Climb
88 ft
Total Descent
376 ft
Highest Point
1,231 ft
~8.3 mi in
Elevation Range
330 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clear Lake, IA and Urbandale, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs and Davenport.
Council Bluffs
107.1 mi in|~1h 56m|via I 35
Davenport
107.1 mi in|~1h 56m|via I 35
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 10m. Total distance: 116.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 105.3 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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 (1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 35 Business): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (I 35; US 18; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): 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 Urbandale, IA before heading back.
