Ames to Corydon is 106.4 miles and takes about 2h 26m via I 35 and IA 5, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within the Midwest, specifically moving south through Iowa. It's a straightforward trip that's perfect for a single day, offering a no-fuss journey between these two Iowa communities. You won't find yourself navigating complex turns or lengthy detours, making it an easy option when you just need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.2 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
25.9 mi
28m
State Highway 14
23 mi
34m
IA 5
18.5 mi
21m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
10.7 mi
12m
County Road S45
9.2 mi
16m
260th Avenue
3.6 mi
6m
I 80
2.6 mi
2m
13th Street
2.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 25.9 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Corydon, 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
Continue on CR S45
3.7 mi·6 min·County Road S45
12
Keep slight left at fork onto CR S45
5.5 mi·9 min·County Road S45
13
Continue on CR S45
461 ft·14 sec·1st Street Northwest
14
Turn left onto CR S45
367 ft·9 sec·B Street Northwest
15
Turn right onto CR S45
0.2 mi·18 sec·Northeast Main Street
16
Continue on CR S45
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto CR G76; CR S45
0.5 mi·58 sec·County Highway G76
18
Turn left onto CR S45
1.9 mi·3 min·County Highway S45
19
Continue on CR S45
1.7 mi·2 min·50th Place
20
Continue on CR S45
3.6 mi·6 min·260th Avenue
21
Turn right onto IA 14
6.4 mi·9 min·State Highway 14
22
Continue on IA 14
1.5 mi·2 min·North 7th Street
23
Turn right onto IA 14; US 34 Business
0.2 mi·16 sec·Woodlawn Avenue
24
Continue on IA 14; US 34 Business
492 ft·8 sec·State Highway 14
25
Continue on IA 14; US 34 Business
0.4 mi·38 sec·South Main Street
26
Continue on IA 14
16 mi·24 min·State Highway 14
27
Continue on IA 14
0.7 mi·1 min·North Washington Street
28
At end of road, turn left onto IA 14
242 ft·6 sec·East Jackson Street
29
Turn right onto IA 14
460 ft·10 sec·North Lafayette Street
30
Turn right onto IA 2
460 ft·13 sec·East Jefferson Street
31
Turn left onto South Franklin Street
86 ft·3 sec·South Franklin Street
32
Arrive at destination
South Franklin Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a relatively short drive of just over 2 hours, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your daylight hours, though an afternoon departure is also easily manageable. With only one recommended day for this trip, you can easily complete it without needing overnight accommodations. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the halfway point, as the longest stretch without exits is 25.9 miles on I 35; plan your refueling stops accordingly before entering that segment.
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 53.2 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.9 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.2 miles or 1h 4m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Corydon, 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 106.4 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Ames, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 25.9 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 19
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
$16.63 one way
$33.27 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.26
$36.53
premium
$4.89
$20.48
$40.95
diesel
$5.61
$23.49
$46.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.9
0
$11.17
$5.11
Efficient EV
26.6
0
$9.31
$4.26
EV Truck/SUV
42.6
0
$14.90
$6.81
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Ames, IA
Morning
in Ames on Tuesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Corydon, IA
Morning
in Corydon on Tuesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Altoona, IA
53 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
2h 26m 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 drive is primarily highway-focused, with about 66% of the route utilizing major highways like I 35 and IA 5. Expect a good portion of your time to be spent on smooth, consistent interstate driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 25.9 miles on I 35, allowing for steady progress without frequent exits. While the majority is highway, you will transition to state highways, offering a slight change in scenery and pace as you approach your destination.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.9 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and State Highway 14. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 106.4 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 Corydon, 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 26m. Total distance: 106.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.9 miles on I 35. 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 Corydon, 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. 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 Corydon, IA before heading back.
