Origin
Ames, IA
Night in Ames on Wednesday
Local time
10:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Postville, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 37m
Distance
172.9 mi
278 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 25m
★
6 AM
3h 38m
8 AM
4h 3m
10 AM
3h 47m
12 PM
3h 44m
3 PM
3h 48m
5 PM
4h 2m
8 PM
3h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Postville, IA
Francesco Ungaro
Trip Overview
The drive from Ames, IA to Postville, IA covers 172.9 miles and takes about 3h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, I 35 Business, Larrabee Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.9 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.81 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
86.5 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 53.9 mi | 1h 2m |
| I 35 Business | 28.6 mi | 31m |
| Larrabee Avenue | 22.8 mi | 26m |
| Harding Road | 16.9 mi | 23m |
| 230th Street | 13 mi | 17m |
| 270th Street | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| Logan Avenue | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| University Avenue | 3.5 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 53.9 mi, about 1h 2m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~974 veh/hr typical · worst 1,494
Quietest
2 AM
~96 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 99 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Postville, 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
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
4
Merge onto US 20
54 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
US 20
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward CR D18: Cedar Falls
6
Turn left onto Grundy Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Grundy Road
7
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
University Avenue
8
Enter roundabout onto Greenhill Road
8 ft
·
0 sec
·
Greenhill Road
9
Continue on Greenhill Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Greenhill Road
10
Turn left onto IA 27; IA 58
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 185
Toward US 218 South: Waterloo
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto US 218
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward Broadway Street: Airport
14
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Airport Boulevard
15
Turn right onto West Airline Highway
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Airline Highway
16
Turn left onto US 63
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Logan Avenue
17
Continue on US 63
23 mi
·
26 min
·
Larrabee Avenue
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
19
At end of road, turn left onto US 18
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
270th Street
20
Continue on US 18
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
21
Continue on US 18
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
270th Street
22
Continue on US 18
13 mi
·
17 min
·
230th Street
23
Continue on US 18
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Bradford Street
24
Continue on US 18
17 mi
·
23 min
·
Harding Road
25
Turn left onto IA 51
38 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Lawler Street
26
Arrive at destination
IA 51
Trip Plan
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 86.5 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.9 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 38 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.5 miles or 1h 41m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Postville, 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 172.9 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 US 20 for about 53.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.5 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 94.6 — 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 Business
Turn left onto I 35 Business toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
4
31.3 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East: Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
4
85.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward CR D18: Cedar Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward CR D18: Cedar Falls
5
90.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
Greenhill Road
Enter roundabout onto Greenhill Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
94.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward US 218 South: Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 185
Toward US 218 South: Waterloo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.81 one way
$53.61 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $29.39 | $58.79 |
| premium | $4.93 | $33.55 | $67.09 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $38.11 | $76.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.9 | 0 | $18.15 | $8.30 |
| Efficient EV | 43.2 | 0 | $15.13 | $6.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.2 | 0 | $24.21 | $11.07 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Postville, IA
Night in Postville on Wednesday
Local time
10:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
86 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
10 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
3h 37m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Effigy Mounds National Monument
National Monument
The mounds preserved here are considered sacred by many Americans, especially the Monument's 20 culturally associated American Indian tribes. A visit offers opportunities to contemplate the meanings o...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 172.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
172.9 mi in 3h 37m — 48% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: US 20.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.9 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 37m drive. You will face about 15 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 31.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 85.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,182 ft
903 ft
Total Climb
499 ft
Total Descent
262 ft
Highest Point
1,182 ft
~172.9 mi in
Elevation Range
279 ft
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 Postville, IA, road signs point toward Cr D18: Cedar Falls and Broadway Street: Airport.
Cr D18: Cedar Falls
85.7 mi in
|
~1h 40m
Broadway Street: Airport
96.2 mi in
|
~1h 55m
About the Cities
Starting in Ames, IA
Full guide →Founded 1864
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...
- • Ames City Hall — United States historic place
Arriving in Postville, IA
Full guide →Founded 1843
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 37m. Total distance: 172.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.9 miles on US 20. 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 31.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 85.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Effigy Mounds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Postville, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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