This 120.2-mile drive from Ames, IA to Centerville, IA will take approximately 2 hours and 38 minutes, making it a perfect one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate via I 35 South, I 80 East, and US 65 South. With a projected fuel cost of around $18, this Midwest journey is budget-friendly. The route offers a straightforward path through Iowa, with just one recommended stop to break up the drive. Its manageable distance and duration mean you can easily complete it without needing an overnight stay.
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
60.1 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IA 5
55.2 mi
1h 11m
I 35
25.9 mi
28m
South Clinton Street
20.6 mi
30m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
10.7 mi
12m
I 80
2.6 mi
2m
13th Street
2.4 mi
5m
East Washington Street
0.3 mi
1m
North 13th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
IA 5
— 55.2 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Centerville, 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
0.2 mi·12 sec·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
5
Take the exit
0.8 mi·2 min
Exit 137AToward I 80 East: Davenport
6
Merge onto I 80
2.6 mi·2 min·I 80
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 141Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des MoinesUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 65
11 mi·12 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
10
Continue on IA 5
19 mi·21 min·IA 5
11
Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92
11 mi·11 min·IA 5; IA 92
12
Take the exit onto IA 5
0.5 mi·1 min·IA 5
13
Turn right onto IA 5
26 mi·37 min·IA 5
14
Turn straight onto IA 5
21 mi·30 min·South Clinton Street
15
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East Washington Street
16
Turn left onto North 13th Street
359 ft·15 sec·North 13th Street
17
Continue on North 13th Street
302 ft·13 sec·North 13th Street
18
Arrive at destination
North 13th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 38 minute duration for this 120.2-mile journey, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Ames in the morning allows ample time for your single recommended stop and arrival in Centerville with daylight to spare. The fuel cost is estimated at $18, so plan accordingly. Pay close attention to road signs as you transition between I 35 South, I 80 East, and US 65 South to ensure you’re on the most efficient path. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means keeping your navigation active and being ready for frequent directional changes.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 60.1 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.2 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 26 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.1 miles or 1h 12m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Centerville, 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 120.2 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 IA 5 for about 55.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 32.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
6
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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
5
28.6 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Davenport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 137A
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
8
32 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 141
Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
5
32.6 mi into trip|~40m in|US 65 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto US 65 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.79 one way
$37.58 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.63
$41.27
premium
$4.89
$23.13
$46.26
diesel
$5.61
$26.54
$53.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.1
0
$12.62
$5.77
Efficient EV
30.1
0
$10.52
$4.81
EV Truck/SUV
48.1
0
$16.83
$7.69
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 20, 2026
Origin
Ames, IA
Late night
in Ames on Tuesday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Centerville, IA
Late night
in Centerville on Tuesday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
2h 38m 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 experience for this 120.2-mile stretch. With 0% highway share, you won't be on high-speed interstates for long, if at all. The profile suggests a more engaged driving experience, winding through local roads as you make your way south. While there isn't a specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile implies frequent adjustments to your course, keeping you connected to the changing landscape. This isn't a monotonous cruise; it's a drive that requires your attention to navigate the numerous turns.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.2 mi on IA 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 5 and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 35.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 120.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Centerville, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport and Des Moines.
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.
Top landmarks
•Catt Hall — building on Iowa State University's campus, U.S.
•Food Sciences Building — historic building on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, United S...
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 120.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.2 miles on IA 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Centerville, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: 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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Centerville, IA before heading back.
