How far is Cedar Falls, IA from Clarinda, IA?

The driving distance from Cedar Falls, IA to Clarinda, IA is about 234.6 miles (377.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 182.1 miles (293.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 50m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
234.64 mi
04h 55m
Flight
182.15 mi
293.14 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cedar Falls.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
182.15 mi
Kilometers
293.14 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
234.64 mi
Kilometers
377.61 km
Drive Time
04h 55m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clarinda
Wed, Apr 15, 8:23 PM CDT
Return by in Cedar Falls
Thu, Apr 16, 1:18 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cedar Falls
2026-04-15T15:28
Arrive Clarinda
Wed, Apr 15, 8:23 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:55 AM to 12:55 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:10 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cedar Falls
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Waukee
IA

City in Dallas County, Iowa, United States of America

From Cedar Falls
117.2 mi
02h 27m
To Clarinda
117.4 mi
02h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Overnight

Patchy Fog

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 mph NNE
Destination
59°F
Overnight

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cedar Falls and Clarinda.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls and Clarinda.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    16 m · 8 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Main Street

    19 m · 1 sec · Main Street

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Main Street

    32 m · 2 sec · Main Street

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto Main Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Main Street

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Main Street

    24 m · 2 sec · Main Street

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto Main Street

    993 ft · 22 sec · Main Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto University Avenue

    1.7 mi · 3 min · University Avenue

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward University Avenue

    38 m · 3 sec · University Avenue

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto University Avenue

    3.5 mi · 5 min · University Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on Grundy Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Grundy Road

  11. 11

    Take the ramp right

    2235 ft · 54 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    11.3 mi · 13 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center

    2083 ft · 59 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto N Avenue

    4.5 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn right onto 210th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 210th Street

  16. 16

    Turn sharp left onto County Road T37

    1 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

  17. 17

    Continue on M Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto 240th Street

    6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

    15.9 mi · 22 min · Sanford Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn right onto 160th Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 160th Street

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on North Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Marsh Avenue

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn right

    35.9 mi · 43 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

    13 mi · 16 min

  25. 25

    Continue straight

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  26. 26

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

    62.3 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon

    1922 ft · 49 sec

  28. 28

    Turn left onto 650th Street

    6.5 mi · 9 min · 650th Street

  29. 29

    Turn right onto East 7th Street

    2 mi · 3 min · East 7th Street

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Whitney Street

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Whitney Street

  31. 31

    Continue on 630th Street

    44.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min · 630th Street

  32. 32

    Turn right onto 210 Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · 210 Street

  33. 33

    Continue on East Washington Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · East Washington Street

  34. 34

    Turn right onto North 16th Street

    59 m · 9 sec · North 16th Street

  35. 35

    Turn left

    11 m · 3 sec

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cedar Falls and Clarinda.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
36 steps
20 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
1 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 west
80.9 mi · 34%
630th Street
44.6 mi · 19%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 7%
Grundy Road
12.5 mi · 5%
650th Street
6.52 mi · 3%
240th Street
6.28 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 80 West

Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

62.3 mi · 01h 07m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 55m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52.5 mi
182.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Waukee
02h 27m from Cedar Falls
Leave By
7:10 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog leaving Cedar Falls and Showers And Thunderstorms near Clarinda.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cedar Falls to Clarinda?

The road trip is about 234.6 miles (377.6 km) and usually takes 04h 55m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Waukee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 117.2 miles from Cedar Falls and 117.4 miles from Clarinda.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 182.1 miles (293.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:10 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.22 one way or $62.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 73.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog around Cedar Falls and Showers And Thunderstorms near Clarinda.

Stop Ideas Near Waukee

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Waukee, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Waukee.

RAIL

Osceola

65 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

73 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cedar Falls and Clarinda. Straight-line distance: 182.15 mi (293.14 km).

Cedar Falls

#1 Cedar Falls

The largest city in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

Population40,231
Coordinates42.5277600, -92.4454700
Altitude268
CountryUnited States
Clarinda

#2 Clarinda

City in Iowa

Population5,366
Coordinates40.7398100, -95.0380000
Altitude318
CountryUnited States
Start: Cedar Falls (-92.44547, 42.52776)
End: Clarinda (-95.038, 40.73981)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 378 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.28 gal
31.34 L · about $31.22
Round trip
$62.45
16.56 gal · 62.68 L
Estimated CO2
73.6 kg one way
Round trip: 147.2 kg / 325 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.22 $62.45
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.21 $70.43
Premium $4.65 $38.54 $77.07
Diesel $5.30 $43.92 $87.83

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Iowa · Apr 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Cedar Falls and Clarinda. The current time is 15:28:06.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.