Is Clive Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Clive, Iowa, is a slender slice of a city in the Des Moines metro area.

While many people are more likely to drive through Clive, there’s plenty to do if you stop and stay a while.

It’s a great middle-ground between Des Moines and Adel.

The city of more than 18,000 people grew rapidly between 2010 and 2020, adding nearly 3,000 people.

There are plenty of hotels to stay in and you might see some names have West Des Moines in the name as well as Clive since the two are neighboring cities.

One of the top draws to Clive is the Greenbelt Trail, which is a walking and bicycle path running 11 miles through the city.

It’s a popular trail with more than 75,000 people using it each year.

It’s also popular with several herds of goats, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

More on that to come.

You can put on your cowboy boots and dance the night away in Clive at one of the largest country-western bars in the state.

If you’d like to watch other people dance around, the Horizon Events Center is just down the road with performances by some of the most popular artists of the past few decades.

Clive is perfectly located to enjoy the city life of Des Moines in a more suburban area, with access to the great outdoors and one of the best farmer’s markets in the country.

Look alive, it’s time to explore Clive.

Warnings & Dangers in Clive

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low risk in Clive as the city itself has low crime rates and it's next to one of the lower crime areas of Des Moines.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

DART is the public bus system in Des Moines and it does service Clive as well. There are local routes and express routes available. You'll have no trouble getting a taxi or rideshare here. It's also an easy town to get around on a bicycle. There's low risk with any option.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

There's a low risk here with a theft rate 40% lower than the national average. You should still use all those good safety techniques, like only bringing what you need and locking up your bike or car when you park.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

You're going to get a carousel of wicked weather risks here, so there's a medium risk for any season. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, strong winds, and intense lighting can happen any time of the year, but peak in the spring. Winter brings the threat of snow, sleet, and ice, which can cripple transportation.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

With just one robbery in 2020, there's a low risk. The violent crime rate is 80% lower than the national average.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

The Des Moines metro area is going to get a medium risk, just because it's the largest city in the state. There's not an overwhelming risk like you'd get in Chicago, but if someone wanted to go after an Iowa location, Des Moines would be the best... er... worst option.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

There are several phone and phishing scams reported in Clive, but nothing that directly targets tourists. There's a low risk of a tourist being scammed.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women should feel safe visiting here. There have been three sexual assaults in the past two years. There are a lot of places to visit, indoors and outdoors. Basic safety precautions are still needed because this is part of a big city.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The 2022 Consumer Confidence Water Quality report shows a low risk in the water with no violations reported. All tests were at or exceeded the requirements. One issue being worked on is the presence of PFAS, the "forever chemicals", in the water of some Iowa cities. While Des Moines water is at the limit in some of the tests, it doesn't exceed any. There is a concerted effort to add more filtering to the water to keep PFAS levels lower. You can learn more about PFAS through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website.

Safest Places to Visit in Clive

The Clive Historical Society can guide you to some of the best locations in town, including an old railroad depot and the 1911 Swanson House.

Swanson Memorial Park has several historical tours available.

There’s also a buckeye tree nearby where you can collect the unique fruit from the tree’s labor.

(I grew up around Buckeye trees, so this seemed a little odd to me that it made a tourism page.

I also remember how much I loved collecting buckeyes as a child, so nostalgia encouraged me to add it here.)

Greenbelt Park and the Greenbelt Trail are great places to explore the outdoors.

Bicycling is a way of life for many Iowans.

You will love the great views along the way and the lessening of your carbon footprint.

The trail system throughout Des Moines is quite elaborate, so study it before you go for a ride.

It’s too easy to go a long distance and then be too tired to ride back.

Be on the lookout for the Greenbelt Goats.

These animals are not on the loose from a nearby farm.

They are supposed to be there eating the weeds and keeping the landscape trimmed.

You can support the goats and their environmental efforts by buying a Greenbelt Goats t-shirt for $20.

Miss Kitty’s Country Nightclub sounds like a strip club, but it’s really a place to do some country line dancing and meet new friends.

This is the best nightlife you’ll find in Clive with some Honkey Tonk on top of the country music.

Maybe start the night out with dinner at Cosi Cucina, a local Italian restaurant that is one of the most popular in Clive.

The Brenton Arboretum is about 30 minutes west of Clive with more than 2500 species of plants, trees, flowers, and shrubs.

This is a peaceful place to stroll through and forget about your busy life.

You can go through the gardens on your own or call ahead and ask for a guided tour.

You have the basic big box stores in Clive if you need to get essentials or do some regional shopping, but you’ll need to explore the other cities nearby for more of the big attractions.

Places to Avoid in Clive

Clive really isn’t big enough in land size to have bad vs. good neighborhoods.

You can feel safe traveling throughout the city.

If you ride a bicycle a lot, you should avoid having headphones on, or at least keep one ear free to hear what is going on around you.

The proper pronunciation of Des Moines is “Duh-MOYNE.” Even the tourism bureau starts its slogan with “The s’s are silent.

Our attractions scream.”

That’s the nice Midwestern way of saying “STOP PRONOUNCING IT INCORRECTLY!”

While nobody is going to correct you most likely, it’s good to know the right way to pronounce where you are visiting.

The same niceness doesn’t apply to people in Illinois when pronouncing the “s” on it.

They’ll be sure to correct you.

It’s “Ill-in-oye.”

I’m from Missouri and I roll my eyes every time someone says “Mizz-urh-ruh.”

Safety Tips for Traveling to Clive

So... How Safe Is Clive Really?

Clive is a pretty safe city surrounded by pretty safe cities, so you’ll make a good choice if you choose to stay here.

There were just 16 violent crimes in 2021 and 169 thefts.

We have a thorough database of the cities around Clive if you want to read those and see what else there is to do.

(Head up – Urbandale has a VERY cool house you’ll want to put on your “drive-by” list of things to see!)

The one crime statistic that is going up in just about every Iowa town is drug crimes.

You can read about the opioid crisis and the dangers of meth on the city website.

It really takes the community and visitors to report suspicious activity so police can act before a crime trend gets out of hand.

Too many times, the people who know drug criminals are too scared to report them.

You should still lock your car and roll up the windows when you park.

You should still keep hotel rooms dead-bolt locked every night.

Low risk doesn’t mean no risk, but in beautiful Iowa, it’s easy to get a false sense of security since it’s such a nice place.

Don’t create a crime of opportunity and you’ll very much enjoy your time in Clive and the Des Moines metro area.

How Does Clive Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

You can travel throughout the Des Moines area without needing your visa. You will need it at the airport, so don't put it in checked baggage. The U.S. Visa process can take up to four months, so plan ahead.

Currency

The U.S. Dollar (USD) is the only currency accepted here. You can easily use a credit card at all locations and don't really need to have cash on hand. Be sure to let your bank know you'll be traveling so it can ping any potentially fraudulent activity.

Weather

One great part of Iowa is that you'll get all four seasons. Winters will be cold and have a painful wind chill at times, so bring your warmest coat, gloves, scarf, and hat. There isn't snow on the ground all winter long, so only bring snow boots if the forecast calls for snow. Summers are hot and muggy, almost suffocatingly so. Be prepared to drink more water than normal and wear light-colored, loose, comfy clothing. Bug spray is a must for the mosquitoes that dominate the outdoors in the summer here. Spring and fall can fluctuate in temperatures, so bring several layers of clothing for ultimate comfort throughout the day.

Airports

Clive is right along the interstate and just 20 minutes from Des Moines International Airport. That's the closest and best option for you. Omaha's airport is two hours west.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is smart for a trip to Clive because of the weather that can quickly shut down air traffic or delay flights for hours.

Clive Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Iowa - Safety by City