Traveling from Ames to Bedford, Iowa, covers 152.7 miles of Midwestern landscape. You should plan for a driving time of approximately 3 hours and 9 minutes to complete the journey. Given the duration, this route is perfectly manageable as a straightforward day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Expect to spend about $23 on fuel for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Since both cities are located within Iowa, you will remain in the Midwest throughout the entire drive. This route is a practical option if you are looking to get from central Iowa to the southern part of the state without an overly complicated itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.3 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
100 mi
1h 49m
State Highway 2
35.5 mi
51m
South Street
13 mi
19m
13th Street
2.4 mi
5m
Pearl Street
0.6 mi
1m
County Road N44
0.4 mi
<1m
Madison Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 100 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Bedford, IA.
1
Start on I 35 Business
2.4 mi·5 min·13th Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
3
Merge onto I 35
26 mi·28 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
14 mi·16 min·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, DavenportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
60 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward IA 2: Leon, Mount Ayr
7
Turn right onto IA 2
20 mi·29 min·State Highway 2
8
Continue on US 169; IA 2
13 mi·19 min·South Street
9
Continue on IA 2
2.5 mi·3 min·State Highway 2
10
Continue on IA 2
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 2
11
Turn left onto CR N44
0.4 mi·42 sec·County Road N44
12
Continue on CR N44
0.6 mi·1 min·Pearl Street
13
Turn left onto IA 148
0.1 mi·11 sec·Madison Street
14
Arrive at destination
IA 148
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan to depart in the morning to allow plenty of daylight for the local roads. Since the drive takes just over three hours, you will only need to account for one planned stop to stretch your legs or grab a quick refreshment. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route can make the drive feel longer than the mileage suggests, so pace yourself accordingly. Because fuel costs are estimated at $23, it is wise to check your tank before heading out, as local highway stops can sometimes be spaced further apart than you might expect. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so feel free to adjust your departure time to avoid any local peak traffic near the Ames area.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.3 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100 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 34 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.3 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bedford, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ames, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ames, IA
This is one driving day of about 152.7 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Ames, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 100 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 102.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
5
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
28.4 mi into trip|~34m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
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 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
6
42.7 mi into trip|~50m in|I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
102.7 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Take the exit toward IA 2: Leon, Mount Ayr
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 2: Leon, Mount Ayr
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.87 one way
$47.75 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.21
$52.42
premium
$4.89
$29.39
$58.77
diesel
$5.61
$33.71
$67.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.8
0
$16.03
$7.33
Efficient EV
38.2
0
$13.36
$6.11
EV Truck/SUV
61.1
0
$21.38
$9.77
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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
Ames, IA
Night
in Ames on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bedford, IA
Night
in Bedford on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Osceola, IA
76 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
2 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
3h 9m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that trades the monotony of major interstates for a more hands-on experience behind the wheel. You will begin your journey on I-35 South before transitioning onto IA 2 and Highway 2 to reach your destination. Because this route has a highway share of 0%, you should be prepared for consistent turning and navigation on local thoroughfares rather than long, straight interstate stretches. The road requires your full attention as you transition off the faster corridors. It is an ideal path for drivers who prefer a more engaged, localized driving experience over a high-speed highway grind.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and State Highway 2. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 152.7 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ames, IA and Bedford, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport and Mount Ayr.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 9m. Total distance: 152.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 100 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Bedford, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
