Origin
Adel, IA
Late night in Adel on Sunday
Local time
2:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Adel, IA to Ames, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
54.5 mi
88 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Adel, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Adel to Ames is 54.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 8 minutes via I 35 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive entirely within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. You'll be spending most of your time on major highways, making it a quick and efficient trip. Given the short distance and minimal driving time, it's an easy same-day journey, perfect for a quick errand or connecting to another route.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 27.7 mi | 30m |
| 290th Street | 11.9 mi | 17m |
| I 80 | 11 mi | 12m |
| East 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Greene Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Nile Kinnick Drive South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 13th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 27.7 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Adel, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on US 169
16 ft
·
7 sec
·
Nile Kinnick Drive South
2
Turn left onto US 6
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Greene Street
3
Continue on US 6
12 mi
·
17 min
·
290th Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 80; I 35
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 80; I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 35; I 80
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 35; I 80
7
Continue on I 80; I 35
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 80; I 35
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
27 mi
·
29 min
·
I 35
Toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
10
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
11
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.3 miles from Adel, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 51.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 6 / Greene Street
Turn left onto US 6 / Greene Street
Navigation decision point
8
12.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Turn left toward I-35 north, I-80 east
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east
5
12.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 80; I 35
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
24.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, De...
4
51.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward USDA Veterinary Labs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.52 one way
$17.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.36 | $18.71 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.49 | $20.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.03 | $24.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.72 | $2.62 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.63 | $3.49 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Ames, IA
Late night in Ames on Sunday
Local time
2:33 AM
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
1h 8m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 71% of it on major interstates like I 35 and I 80. You'll experience stretches of consistent speed on these highways, with the longest uninterrupted segment covering 27.7 miles on I 35. While the bulk of the journey is on fast-paced roads, there are also segments on local routes like 290th Street, offering a slight change of pace. Expect a practical, no-frills driving experience as you navigate between these Iowa communities.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.7 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and 290th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 6 / Greene Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 8m 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: near the start (US 6 / Greene Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Adel, IA and Ames, IA, road signs point toward Des Moines and Usda Veterinary Labs.
Des Moines
24.6 mi in
|
~32m
|
via I 35
Usda Veterinary Labs
51.5 mi in
|
~1h 2m
About the Cities
Arriving in Ames, IA
Full guide →Ames is a pleasant college town in Central Iowa, sitting astride the Skunk River roughly 30 miles north of Des Moines. Life in Ames follows the ebb and flow of the academic year at Iowa State University, which is the city's primary draw.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 54.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.7 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 6 / Greene Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ames, IA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Ames, IA
More trips to Ames, IA
Explore more options from Adel, IA or browse trips ending in Ames, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.