Origin
Ames, IA
Night in Ames on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Marshalltown, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
42.1 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Marshalltown, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Ames to Marshalltown is a straightforward 42.1-mile journey that typically takes about 54 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a quick day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, it is an incredibly cost-effective excursion through the heart of the Iowa Midwest. You will primarily navigate via I-35 South, US-30 East, and South Center Street to reach your destination. Use this drive when you need a reliable, efficient connection between these two Iowa hubs without the logistical stress of a long-haul trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 30 | 33.7 mi | 39m |
| 13th Street | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| South Center Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| I 35 | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| South 3rd Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Anson Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North 3rd Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 30
— 33.7 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Marshalltown, 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
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
Toward US 30 East: Nevada
5
Merge onto US 30
34 mi
·
39 min
·
US 30
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
7
Turn left onto IA 14
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Center Street
8
Turn right onto IA 14
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
East Anson Street
9
Turn left onto IA 14
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South 3rd Avenue
10
Arrive at destination
IA 14
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 2.4 and 41.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
4
4.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward US 30 East: Nevada
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 30 East: Nevada
4
38.6 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
IA 14 / South Center Street
Turn left onto IA 14 / South Center Street
Navigation decision point
4
41.1 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
IA 14 / East Anson Street
Turn right onto IA 14 / East Anson Street
Navigation decision point
4
41.3 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
IA 14 / South 3rd Avenue
Turn left onto IA 14 / South 3rd Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.58 one way
$13.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.23 | $14.45 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.10 | $16.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.30 | $18.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.42 | $2.02 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.89 | $2.69 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Marshalltown, IA
Night in Marshalltown on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Nevada, IA
21 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
54m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy, local-style drive that keeps you engaged rather than lulling you into a monotonous interstate grind. While the route utilizes major connectors like I-35 and US-30, it shifts quickly into a more localized experience as you maneuver toward your final stop. The lack of a high highway-share percentage means you will spend more time navigating intersections and changing road types than cruising at high speeds on an open freeway. You won't find one single, endless stretch of pavement here; instead, the road requires your consistent attention as you transition between thoroughfares. It is a practical, functional drive that prioritizes directness over scenic highway cruising.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.7 mi on US 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 30 and 13th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 54m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 38.6 miles (IA 14 / South Center Street): Navigation decision point.
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 54m. Total distance: 42.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.7 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: at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 38.6 miles (IA 14 / South Center Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Marshalltown, IA before heading back.
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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