If you are planning to travel from Ames to Carroll, you are looking at a straightforward 67.7-mile journey across the Iowa landscape. Expect the drive to take approximately 1 hour and 32 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via US 30, with short segments on University Boulevard and Grand Avenue to get you out of town and into your destination. With a modest fuel budget of about $10, this is an economical route for a quick getaway or a necessary business trip. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, the drive maintains a consistent regional feel throughout the entire excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.8 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 30
64.5 mi
1h 25m
University Boulevard
1.1 mi
2m
Grand Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
South 4th Street
0.7 mi
1m
South Grand Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
13th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 30
— 64.5 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Carroll, IA.
1
Start on I 35 Business
117 ft·11 sec·13th Street
2
Turn left onto I 35 Business; US 69
0.8 mi·1 min·Grand Avenue
3
Continue on South Grand Avenue
0.3 mi·37 sec·South Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South 4th Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto University Boulevard
1.1 mi·2 min·University Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward US 30 west: Boone
7
Merge onto US 30
62 mi·1 hr 21 min·US 30
8
Continue on US 30
2.3 mi·4 min·US 30
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right
74 ft·10 sec
10
Turn left
129 ft·9 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it suits your schedule without worrying about mid-route lodging. Because the entire journey spans less than two hours, you likely won’t need any formal stops, allowing you to drive straight through if you prefer. Keep in mind that with US 30 serving as the backbone of your trip, traffic flow will be your primary factor for timing. Budget around $10 for gas before you head out, and ensure your vehicle is ready for a solid hour of highway-speed driving. A great tip for this route is to check real-time traffic alerts specifically for US 30, as that single stretch accounts for almost the entire duration of your trip.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 33.8 miles from Ames, IA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.5 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 15 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.8 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carroll, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ames, IA
This is one driving day of about 67.7 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Ames, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 30 for about 64.5 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 67.6 — 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|I 35 Business; US 69 / Grand Avenue
Turn left onto I 35 Business; US 69 / Grand Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|South 4th Street
Turn right onto South 4th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
2.8 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward US 30 west: Boone
Navigation decision point
Toward US 30 west: Boone
4
67.6 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
67.6 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.58 one way
$21.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$11.62
$23.24
premium
$4.89
$13.03
$26.06
diesel
$5.61
$14.95
$29.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.3
0
$7.11
$3.25
Efficient EV
16.9
0
$5.92
$2.71
EV Truck/SUV
27.1
0
$9.48
$4.33
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Carroll, IA
Night
in Carroll on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Boone, IA
34 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
18 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 32m 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?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 95% of your travel time spent on major routes. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 64.5 miles on US 30. Because the vast majority of the mileage is highway-based, the drive is efficient and functional rather than technical. While you transition off local roads like University Boulevard and Grand Avenue, the experience remains predictable and steady. Behind the wheel, you can expect a consistent pace as you traverse the heart of Iowa without the need for complex navigation or frequent lane changes.
95% 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: 64.5 mi on US 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 30 and University Boulevard. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near I 35 Business; US 69 / Grand Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ames, IA to Carroll, IA is easy. At 1h 32m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (I 35 Business; US 69 / Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (South 4th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point.
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.
The longest stretch is about 64.5 miles on US 30. 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 (I 35 Business; US 69 / Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (South 4th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Carroll, IA before heading back.
