Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
58 mi
93 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marshalltown, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Clive, IA
DS stories
Marshalltown to Clive is 58 miles and takes about 1 hour 15 minutes via IA 330 and John MacVicar Freeway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to the same region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's perfect for a quick hop between cities. Expect a smooth journey with minimal complexity, making it an easy choice for a day trip or a short leg of a longer adventure. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained state and US highways.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 330 | 35.9 mi | 42m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 10.2 mi | 13m |
| US 65 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| West Lincolnway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Marshalltown Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| East Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South 3rd Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 73rd Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Marshalltown, IA and Clive, IA.
Start on IA 14
Turn right onto East Main Street
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
Turn right onto West Madison Street
Turn straight onto West Lincolnway
Continue on Marshalltown Boulevard
Continue on IA 330
Take the exit onto US 65
Take the exit
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
Take the exit
Turn left onto 73rd Street
Turn left onto University Avenue
Turn right onto Northwest 78th Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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.
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 29 miles from Marshalltown, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 57.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto US 65 toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward 73rd Street, 8th Street, Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto University Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$9.07 one way
$18.14 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.96 | $19.91 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.16 | $22.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.81 | $25.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.09 | $2.78 |
| Efficient EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.12 | $3.71 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Marshalltown on Saturday
Local time
3:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Clive on Saturday
Local time
3:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
72°F
Colfax, IA
29 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the route utilizing major roads. You'll begin on IA 330, which offers a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 35.9 miles, setting a steady pace early on. As you progress, you'll transition onto the John MacVicar Freeway and US 65, maintaining a consistent highway feel throughout most of the 58-mile journey. The character remains largely that of efficient travel, prioritizing directness over winding scenic byways.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 330 and John MacVicar Freeway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 41.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 58 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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