Clear Lake to West Des Moines is 119.2 miles and takes about 2h 14m via Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, moving you from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a route with frequent turns, characteristic of local drives, rather than a straight shot on a major interstate. With only one day recommended for this trip, it's a straightforward journey perfect for a quick transit or an easy day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.6 miles from Clear Lake, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
105.3 mi
1h 53m
John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
12m
63rd Street
1.1 mi
2m
4th Avenue South
1.1 mi
1m
Vine Street
0.4 mi
<1m
I 35 Business
0.3 mi
<1m
North 8th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
1st Avenue North
<0.1 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 West Des Moines, 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 left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi·12 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 4Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor HeightsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi·2 min·63rd Street
11
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·Vine Street
12
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2h 14m, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. There are no specific stops recommended, so plan your own breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as the longest stretch is over 100 miles. Since this is a one-day trip, consider leaving in the morning to maximize your daylight hours. A good tip for this route is to ensure your GPS is set to avoid highways if you prefer a more local feel, or to follow the Avenue of the Saints closely if you want to stick to the primary recommended road.
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 59.6 miles from Clear Lake, IA, or about 1h 5m 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 59.6 miles or 1h 5m 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 46m
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 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 119.2 miles and 2h 14m.
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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 117.4 — 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.
5
107.1 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
117.4 mi into trip|~2h 10m 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
$18.64 one way
$37.27 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.46
$40.92
premium
$4.89
$22.94
$45.88
diesel
$5.61
$26.32
$52.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.8
0
$12.52
$5.72
Efficient EV
29.8
0
$10.43
$4.77
EV Truck/SUV
47.7
0
$16.69
$7.63
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Clear Lake, IA
Morning
in Clear Lake on Sunday
Local time
6:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Morning
in West Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
6:53 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
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 14m 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?
This route features a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll encounter more frequent directional changes than on a typical interstate. Approximately 8% of the drive is on highways, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 105.3 miles along the Avenue of the Saints. As you progress, the road will likely transition between these main arteries and local roads, requiring your attention to navigation. Be prepared for a driving experience that is more engaging and less monotonous than a pure highway cruise.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 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?
4/10
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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 14m drive. You will face about 9 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.
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 — we found about 11 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.
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 West Des Moines, IA before heading back.
