Origin
Ames, IA
Night in Ames on Friday
Local time
11:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Clarion, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
60 mi
97 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Clarion, IA
MART PRODUCTION
Trip Overview
The drive from Ames, IA to Clarion, IA covers 60 miles and takes about 1h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35 Business, Little Wall Lake Road, 220th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29 miles on I 35 Business. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 60 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
The drive from Ames, IA to Clarion, IA covers 60 miles and takes about 1h 16m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 Business is the longest continuous segment at about 29 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 35 Business.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ames, IA to Clarion, IA is easy. At 1h 16m with 54% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 35 Business): Navigation decision point; at 31.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 31.9 miles (US 20): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 35 Business
Turn left onto I 35 Business toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
4
31.6 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
3
31.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
US 20
Merge onto US 20
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
35.2 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward US 69
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 69
4
55.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
IA 3 / 220th Street
Turn left onto IA 3 / 220th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 Business | 29 mi | 31m |
| Little Wall Lake Road | 19.5 mi | 26m |
| 220th Street | 4 mi | 5m |
| US 20 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Central Avenue East | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 35 Business
— 29 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Clarion, IA.
1
Start on I 35 Business
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
13th Street
2
Turn left onto I 35 Business
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 35 Business
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
4
Merge onto US 20
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
US 20
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward US 69
6
Turn right onto US 69
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Little Wall Lake Road
7
Turn left onto IA 3
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
220th Street
8
Continue on IA 3
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue East
9
Arrive at destination
IA 3
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30 mi from Ames, IA · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Clarion, IA
The final approach into Clarion, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.38 one way
$18.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.30 | $20.60 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.55 | $23.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.25 | $26.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
| Efficient EV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24 | 0 | $8.40 | $3.84 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Clarion, IA
Night in Clarion on Friday
Local time
11:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 16m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ames, IA to Clarion, IA covers 60 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35 Business, Little Wall Lake Road, 220th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30 miles from Ames, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.38 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Ames, IA to Clarion, IA is easy. At 1h 16m with 54% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 35 Business): Navigation decision point; at 31.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 31.9 miles (US 20): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from Ames, IA to Clarion, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Clarion, IA
More trips to Clarion, IA
Explore more options from Ames, IA or browse trips ending in Clarion, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.