Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
46.8 mi
75 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Oakland, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ames to Oakland is 46.8 miles and takes about 1h 2m via I 35 Business, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays entirely within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. It's a straightforward trip that doesn't require much planning, making it ideal for a quick local excursion or a segment of a longer journey. You'll spend most of your time on major roads, so expect a consistent pace. This route is best suited for travelers looking for efficiency rather than extensive sightseeing.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 Business | 37.4 mi | 40m |
| 30th Street | 3 mi | 7m |
| 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| 330th Street | 2.5 mi | 6m |
| Dogwood Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Oakland Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Dows Williams Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Oakland, IA.
Start on I 35 Business
Turn left onto I 35 Business
Take the exit
Turn right onto Dows Williams Road
Turn left onto 330th Street
Continue on 30th Street
Turn left onto Dogwood Avenue
Turn left onto Oakland Drive
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.4 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 46.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto I 35 Business toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward CR R75: Woolstock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn right onto Dows Williams Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto 330th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Oakland Drive
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$7.32 one way
$14.63 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.03 | $16.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.01 | $18.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.33 | $20.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.55 | $3.00 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Ames on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Oakland on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 80% of the route utilizing major roads like I 35 Business, 30th Street, and 13th Street. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 37.4 miles on I 35 Business, offering a good opportunity to settle into a steady pace. The majority of this journey involves higher-speed driving, characteristic of interstate travel. While the landscape is primarily Midwestern terrain, the focus remains on covering distance efficiently rather than winding through picturesque backroads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 Business and 30th Street. 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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ames, IA to Oakland, IA is easy. At 1h 2m with 80% 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 40 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 40.4 miles (Dows Williams Road): Navigation decision point.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ames, IA to Oakland, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Cr R75: Woolstock along the way.
Cr R75: Woolstock
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 46.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Straightforward navigation.
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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