Ames to Wellman is 139.2 miles and takes about 2 hours 47 minutes via I 80, I 35, and State Highway 22, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip is a straightforward journey through the heart of the Midwest, staying entirely within Iowa. You'll mainly be on interstate highways, making for efficient travel between these two points. It's a practical option if you're looking for a relatively short and uncomplicated drive without needing to plan for an overnight stay. Consider this route for its directness and ease of navigation.
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
69.6 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
78.7 mi
1h 24m
I 35
25.9 mi
28m
State Highway 22
12.8 mi
18m
M Avenue
11.7 mi
16m
State Highway 149
5.2 mi
7m
13th Street
2.4 mi
5m
Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
6th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 78.7 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Wellman, 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
26 mi·28 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
0.2 mi·12 sec·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
5
Take the exit
0.8 mi·2 min
Exit 137AToward I 80 East: Davenport
6
Merge onto I 80
79 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 80
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward Merango, North English
8
Turn right onto CR V66
12 mi·16 min·M Avenue
9
Continue on IA 149
5.2 mi·7 min·State Highway 149
10
Turn left onto IA 22
0.4 mi·34 sec·Main Street
11
Continue on IA 22
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 22
12
Continue on IA 22
0.3 mi·24 sec·6th Street
13
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·9th Avenue
14
Turn left
173 ft·14 sec
15
At end of road, turn right
104 ft·7 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of under 3 hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. Leaving Ames in the morning will comfortably get you to Wellman with ample daylight remaining. The longest stretch without a major road change is 78.7 miles on I 80, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before entering this segment if needed. With only one recommended stop and a low fuel cost, this trip is easy on the wallet and your schedule.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.6 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.7 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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.6 miles or 1h 19m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wellman, 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 139.2 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 80 for about 78.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 139.1 — 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
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
28.4 mi into trip|~34m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
5
28.6 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Davenport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 137A
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
5
108.2 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward Merango, North English
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Merango, North English
6
139.1 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.76 one way
$43.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.89
$47.79
premium
$4.89
$26.79
$53.58
diesel
$5.61
$30.73
$61.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.8
0
$14.62
$6.68
Efficient EV
34.8
0
$12.18
$5.57
EV Truck/SUV
55.7
0
$19.49
$8.91
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ames, IA
Late night
in Ames on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wellman, IA
Late night
in Wellman on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Newton, IA
70 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
19 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
2h 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 88% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including a significant segment of 78.7 miles on I 80. The main roads, I 80, I 35, and State Highway 22, are designed for steady progress. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently rather than offering varied scenery or winding roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 78.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 35.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 47m drive. You will face about 11 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): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Wellman, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport, Merango and English.
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 drive from Ames, IA to Wellman, IA covers 139.2 miles and takes about 2h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 35, State Highway 22. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.6 miles from Ames, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.76 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 47m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Between Ames, IA and Wellman, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport, Merango and English.
