This 115.3-mile drive from Clarksville, IA to Ankeny, IA is a straightforward, one-day road trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 21 minutes. It's a highway-focused journey that should fit comfortably into your schedule without needing an overnight stop. You'll be spending about 80% of your time on major highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 72.4 miles on I-35. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $18, making it an economical option for exploring the Midwest. This route offers a practical way to travel between two points within Iowa, focusing on efficiency.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.7 miles from Clarksville, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 115.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with roughly 80% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter a significant 72.4-mile stretch on I-35, offering a chance to maintain consistent speeds. The transition between State Highway 3 and 210th Street will introduce a change in pace from the interstate. While the profile is primarily highway, keep in mind that the initial and final segments might involve more local road conditions as you enter and exit your starting and ending points.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 72.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 around 40.7 miles in.
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 21m 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: 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; at 113.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
113.4 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
113.7 mi into trip|~2h 17m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
115.3 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
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 Ankeny, IA, road signs point toward Hampton and Clarion.
Hampton
40.7 mi in|~57m
Clarion
40.7 mi in|~57m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
72.4 mi
1h 18m
State Highway 3
18.2 mi
25m
210th Street
15.7 mi
21m
Central Avenue East
2.1 mi
4m
State Highway 188
1.8 mi
2m
South Street
1.7 mi
2m
East 1st Street
1.4 mi
3m
South Main Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 72.4 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarksville, IA and Ankeny, 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
72 mi·1 hr 18 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 92Toward 1st Street
16
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft·9 sec
17
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi·3 min·East 1st Street
18
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
19
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·2 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
20
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 21 minutes, this trip from Clarksville to Ankeny offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart mid-morning to avoid rush hour and still arrive with plenty of daylight. Since there are no specific stops recommended, plan for a single fuel and rest break if needed, perhaps midway through the 72.4-mile segment on I-35. The estimated fuel cost of $18 is quite manageable, but it's always wise to check your fuel gauge before leaving Clarksville to ensure you have enough to reach Ankeny comfortably.
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 57.7 miles from Clarksville, IA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.4 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 25 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.7 miles or 1h 16m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ankeny, 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 115.3 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Clarksville, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 72.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.7 mi from Clarksville, IA
· 1h 16m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.03 one way
$36.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.79
$39.58
premium
$4.89
$22.19
$44.38
diesel
$5.61
$25.46
$50.91
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: 40.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.6
0
$12.11
$5.53
Efficient EV
28.8
0
$10.09
$4.61
EV Truck/SUV
46.1
0
$16.14
$7.38
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Clarksville, IA
Morning
in Clarksville on Saturday
Local time
8:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Morning
in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
8:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
23 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 21m 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 Clarksville, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 115.3 miles and takes about 2h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, State Highway 3, 210th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.7 miles from Clarksville, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.03 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.
This is a straightforward 2h 21m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 113.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Between Clarksville, IA and Ankeny, IA, road signs point toward Hampton and Clarion.
