Origin
Ames, IA
Night in Ames on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Cresco, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 15m
Distance
159.3 mi
256 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 4m
★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 40m
10 AM
3h 24m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 25m
5 PM
3h 38m
8 PM
3h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Cresco, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ames to Cresco is 159.3 miles and takes about 3h 15m via I 35 Business and State Highway 9, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, traversing the familiar Midwest landscape. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward journey for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. With only one recommended stop and a short duration, you can easily complete this trip in a single day, leaving plenty of flexibility for your schedule.
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
79.6 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 Business | 76.4 mi | 1h 22m |
| State Highway 9 | 33 mi | 45m |
| US 18 | 30.4 mi | 35m |
| Monroe Street | 11.4 mi | 16m |
| 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Highway 9 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| 2nd Avenue Southwest | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Main Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 35 Business
— 76.4 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Cresco, IA.
1
Start on I 35 Business
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
13th Street
2
Turn left onto I 35 Business
76 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
I 35 Business
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
3
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
4
Merge onto US 18; IA 27
30 mi
·
35 min
·
US 18; IA 27
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 218, CR T44: Floyd
6
Turn left onto US 218
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Monroe Street
7
Turn right onto IA 9
12 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 9
8
Continue on IA 9
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 9
9
Continue on IA 9
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
10
Continue on IA 9
21 mi
·
28 min
·
State Highway 9
11
Continue on IA 9
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
2nd Avenue Southwest
12
Turn left onto 3rd Street Southwest
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
3rd Street Southwest
13
Continue on 3rd Street West
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Street West
14
Turn right onto 8th Avenue West
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Avenue West
15
Arrive at destination
8th Avenue East
Trip Plan
Since this 159.3-mile drive takes just over 3 hours, you have the advantage of flexibility; leaving Ames in the morning means you'll arrive in Cresco with ample time left in the day. The estimated fuel cost is around $25, so plan accordingly. With only one recommended stop, consider making it a mid-point break to stretch your legs and grab a quick bite. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 76.4-mile stretch on I 35 Business, to ensure you don't need to search for a station in a less populated 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 79.6 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.4 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 35 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.6 miles or 1h 28m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cresco, 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 159.3 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 Business for about 76.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.6 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 Business if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.4 miles.
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 85 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 158.2 — 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 Business
Turn left onto I 35 Business toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
5
79 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Cha...
5
110.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 218, CR T44: Floyd
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218, CR T44: Floyd
4
110.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
|
US 218 / Monroe Street
Turn left onto US 218 / Monroe Street
Navigation decision point
4
158.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 13m in
|
3rd Street Southwest
Turn left onto 3rd Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.90 one way
$49.81 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $27.34 | $54.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $30.66 | $61.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.17 | $70.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.73 | $7.65 |
| Efficient EV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.94 | $6.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.7 | 0 | $22.30 | $10.20 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Cresco, IA
Night in Cresco on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
24 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
3h 15m 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 largely a highway-focused drive, with 88% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 35 Business, including the longest stretch of uninterrupted driving at 76.4 miles. Expect a consistent pace for most of the trip, characterized by smooth, direct travel. While the primary roads are highways, the shift to State Highway 9 and US 18 will offer a slightly different driving feel as you approach your destination.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.4 mi on I 35 Business.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 Business and State Highway 9. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 35 Business.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ames, IA to Cresco, IA is easy. At 3h 15m with 88% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 35 Business): Navigation decision point; at 79 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
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 Cresco, IA, road signs point toward Charles City and Cr T44: Floyd.
Charles City
79 mi in
|
~1h 27m
Cr T44: Floyd
110.5 mi in
|
~2h 4m
About the Cities
Starting 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 3h 15m. Total distance: 159.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.4 miles on I 35 Business. 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 2.7 miles (I 35 Business): Navigation decision point; at 79 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Cresco, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
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