Ames to Manson is 89 miles and takes about 1 hour 47 minutes via US 20, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Iowa, making it a straightforward drive. You'll be covering a highway-focused route that is entirely on paved roads. Given the short distance and duration, this journey is ideal for a single-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace without the need for an overnight stay. Plan for approximately $14 in fuel costs for this relatively short hop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.5 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
50.6 mi
58m
I 35 Business
29 mi
31m
Tabor Avenue
3.5 mi
6m
13th Street
2.7 mi
5m
Sigourney Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
220th Street
0.7 mi
<1m
8th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
10th Avenue
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 50.6 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Manson, IA.
1
Start on I 35 Business
2.7 mi·5 min·13th Street
2
Turn left onto I 35 Business
29 mi·31 min·I 35 Business
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi·56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
4
Merge onto US 20
51 mi·58 min·US 20
5
Turn right onto CR N65
1.6 mi·2 min·Sigourney Avenue
6
At end of road, turn right onto D26
0.7 mi·59 sec·220th Street
7
Turn left onto Tabor Avenue
3.0 mi·5 min·Tabor Avenue
8
At end of road, turn right onto IA 7
25 ft·5 sec·190th Street
9
Turn left onto Tabor Avenue
0.5 mi·52 sec·Tabor Avenue
10
Continue on 8th Street
0.4 mi·40 sec·8th Street
11
Turn right onto 10th Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·10th Avenue
12
Turn right onto Main Street
35 ft·1 sec·Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of under two hours, this route offers significant flexibility. Consider departing Ames after the morning rush hour, around 9:00 AM, to avoid any local congestion. Since the longest stretch is just over 50 miles, you won't need frequent fuel stops, but it's always wise to keep an eye on your gauge, especially when traveling on US 20. There are no designated stops mentioned, so you can easily adjust your timing based on your preferences. Arriving in Manson before late afternoon should provide ample time to settle in.
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 44.5 miles from Ames, IA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.6 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 20 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.5 miles or 52m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manson, 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 89 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Ames, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 50.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 89 — 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
4
31.6 mi into trip|~36m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
4
84.1 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|D26 / 220th Street
At end of road, turn right onto D26 / 220th Street
Navigation decision point
5
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|IA 7 / 190th Street
At end of road, turn right onto IA 7 / 190th Street
Navigation decision point
5
89 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.91 one way
$27.83 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.28
$30.55
premium
$4.89
$17.13
$34.25
diesel
$5.61
$19.65
$39.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.7
0
$9.34
$4.27
Efficient EV
22.3
0
$7.79
$3.56
EV Truck/SUV
35.6
0
$12.46
$5.70
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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 15, 2026
Origin
Ames, IA
Night
in Ames on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Manson, IA
Night
in Manson on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
22 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 47m 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 is an 89% highway-focused drive, meaning you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads designed for efficient travel. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 50.6 miles, which occurs on US 20. You'll navigate using US 20, I 35 Business, and Tabor Avenue. Expect a consistent driving experience primarily on higher-speed roads, with minimal deviations or slower local roads.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.6 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35 Business. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 35 Business.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 47m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 35 Business): Navigation decision point; at 31.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 84.1 miles (D26 / 220th Street): 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 50.6 miles on US 20. 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: at 2.7 miles (I 35 Business): Navigation decision point; at 31.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 84.1 miles (D26 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Manson, IA before heading back.
