Spanning 211.5 miles across the heart of the Midwest, this trek from Clinton to Waukee takes approximately 3 hours and 24 minutes of driving time. Because the journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget about $31 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating through Iowa, the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, offering a different pace than typical cross-country travel. It is a straightforward trip that provides a practical way to connect these two Iowa locations while keeping your travel logistics simple.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
105.7 miles from Clinton, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
100.5 mi
1h 49m
US 61
83.7 mi
1h 32m
Lincoln Way
17.2 mi
21m
Hickman Road
5.6 mi
9m
Manufacturing Drive
1.6 mi
2m
South Bluff Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
2nd Avenue South
0.9 mi
2m
6th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 100.5 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, IA and Waukee, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue South
0.9 mi·2 min·2nd Avenue South
2
Turn left onto South Bluff Boulevard
1.4 mi·2 min·South Bluff Boulevard
3
Turn straight onto Manufacturing Drive
1.6 mi·2 min·Manufacturing Drive
4
Turn right onto US 30
17 mi·21 min·Lincoln Way
5
Merge onto US 61
14 mi·16 min·US 61
6
Take the exit onto US 61
70 mi·1 hr 16 min·US 61
7
Continue on I 80
100 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 125Toward US 6: Hickman Road, AdelUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto US 6
5.6 mi·9 min·Hickman Road
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto CR R22
0.2 mi·34 sec·6th Street
11
Turn left onto Ashworth Drive
139 ft·4 sec·Ashworth Drive
12
Arrive at destination
Ashworth Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a one-day trip with 211.5 miles to cover, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal schedule. With only one recommended stop, you can easily manage the 3-hour and 24-minute duration without feeling rushed. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between South Bluff Boulevard and Lincoln Way, given the turn-heavy nature of the route. Because the drive relies entirely on local roads, factor in extra time for potential traffic signals or slower zones that you wouldn't encounter on an interstate. Carrying $31 for fuel is a solid baseline, but keeping a little extra in your travel budget is always a smart move for local road navigation.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 105.7 miles from Clinton, IA, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.5 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 47 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.7 miles or 2h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waukee, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clinton, 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 Clinton, IA
This is one driving day of about 211.4 miles and 4h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Clinton, 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 80 for about 100.5 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 211.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3.9 mi into trip|~7m in|US 30 / Lincoln Way
Turn right onto US 30 / Lincoln Way
Navigation decision point
8
205.3 mi into trip|~3h 50m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Hickman Road, Adel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 125
Toward US 6: Hickman Road, Adel
5
205.6 mi into trip|~3h 51m in|US 6 / Hickman Road
Turn right onto US 6 / Hickman Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
211.2 mi into trip|~4h in|CR R22 / 6th Street
Turn left onto CR R22 / 6th Street
Navigation decision point
4
211.4 mi into trip|~4h 1m in|Ashworth Drive
Turn left onto Ashworth Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.05 one way
$66.10 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.29
$72.58
premium
$4.89
$40.68
$81.36
diesel
$5.61
$46.67
$93.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.4
0
$22.20
$10.15
Efficient EV
52.9
0
$18.50
$8.46
EV Truck/SUV
84.6
1
$29.60
$13.53
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 14, 2026
Origin
Clinton, IA
Night
in Clinton on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 to 15 mph40% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 5:21AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:00PM CDT until April 16 at 7:30AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Waukee, IA
Night
in Waukee on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 5 to 15 mph35% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 5:21AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:00PM CDT until April 16 at 7:30AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
2 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
4h 1m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will navigate via South Bluff Boulevard, Manufacturing Drive, and Lincoln Way, which demands your full attention behind the wheel. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches on highways, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience. The road's personality is defined by its local nature, requiring you to navigate turns frequently as you transition between towns. This setup makes for a very different feel compared to high-speed transit, as you will be moving through the regional landscape at a more deliberate, local pace.
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: 100.5 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 61. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in near US 30 / Lincoln Way.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 1m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles (US 30 / Lincoln Way): Navigation decision point; at 205.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 205.6 miles (US 6 / Hickman Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 100.5 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: at 3.9 miles (US 30 / Lincoln Way): Navigation decision point; at 205.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 205.6 miles (US 6 / Hickman Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Waukee, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
