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Trip from Clive, IA to Waukee, IA

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

17m

Distance

9.2 mi

15 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$1

one way

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 16m ★
6 AM
0h 17m
8 AM
0h 20m
10 AM
0h 18m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 20m
8 PM
0h 16m ★

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Clive, IA, IA

Clive, IA

DS stories

human settlement in Dallas County, Iowa, United States of America

Waukee, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Clive, IA to Waukee, IA covers 9.2 miles and takes about 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Hickman Road, Swanson Boulevard, University Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6.7 miles on Hickman Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.44 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

4.6 miles from Clive, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 17m drive with frequent turns across 9.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hickman Road is the longest continuous segment at about 6.7 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,033 ft 831 ft

Total Climb

222 ft

Total Descent

20 ft

Highest Point

1,033 ft

~9.2 mi in

Elevation Range

202 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 around 0.2 miles in near University Boulevard.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 17m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (University Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (Northwest 100th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 6 / Hickman Road): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | University Boulevard

Turn right onto University Boulevard

Navigation decision point

5
2 mi into trip | ~5m in | Northwest 100th Street

Turn right onto Northwest 100th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
4
2.2 mi into trip | ~5m in | US 6 / Hickman Road

Turn left onto US 6 / Hickman Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
4
8.9 mi into trip | ~16m in | CR R22 / 6th Street

Turn left onto CR R22 / 6th Street

Navigation decision point

4
9.1 mi into trip | ~17m in | Ashworth Drive

Turn left onto Ashworth Drive

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Hickman Road 6.7 mi 11m
Swanson Boulevard 1.1 mi 2m
University Boulevard 0.7 mi 1m
Northwest 100th Street 0.2 mi <1m
6th Street 0.2 mi <1m
Northwest 78th Street 0.2 mi <1m
Ashworth Drive <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Hickman Road — 6.7 mi, about 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clive, IA and Waukee, IA.

1

Start on Northwest 78th Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Northwest 78th Street
2

Turn right onto University Boulevard

0.7 mi · 1 min · University Boulevard
3

Continue on Swanson Boulevard

1.1 mi · 2 min · Swanson Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4

Turn right onto Northwest 100th Street

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Northwest 100th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Turn left onto US 6

6.7 mi · 11 min · Hickman Road
Use the left lane.
6

Turn left onto CR R22

0.2 mi · 34 sec · 6th Street
7

Turn left onto Ashworth Drive

139 ft · 4 sec · Ashworth Drive
8

Arrive at destination

Ashworth Drive

Trip Plan

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 4.6 miles from Clive, IA, or about 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.7 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 9 miles or 16m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 4.6 miles or 9m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waukee, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Clive, IA.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Clive, IA

This is one driving day of about 9.2 miles and 17m.

At 9.2 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Hickman Road for about 6.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 4.6 mi from Clive, IA · 9m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

Dallas Center, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Grimes, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 4.6 miles from Clive, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Waukee, IA

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Waukee, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.44 one way

$2.88 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 3 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $1.58 $3.16
premium $4.89 $1.77 $3.54
diesel $5.61 $2.03 $4.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$26–$51

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 3.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 2.8 0 $0.97 $0.44
Efficient EV 2.3 0 $0.80 $0.37
EV Truck/SUV 3.7 0 $1.29 $0.59

Gas CO2

3 kg

EV CO2

1 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 15, 2026

Origin

Clive, IA

Evening in Clive on Wednesday

Local time

5:12 PM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waukee, IA

Evening in Waukee on Wednesday

Local time

5:12 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°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

18 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

17m 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 Clive, IA to Waukee, IA covers 9.2 miles and takes about 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Hickman Road, Swanson Boulevard, University Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.6 miles from Clive, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.44 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 17m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (University Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (Northwest 100th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 6 / Hickman Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Clive, IA to Waukee, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 831 ft to 1,033 ft elevation with about 222 ft of total climbing.

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