Origin
Center Point, IA
Late night in Center Point on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Center Point, IA to Ames, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 25m
Distance
120.3 mi
194 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 15m
★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 32m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 33m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Center Point, IA
Atlantic Ambience
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 120.3-mile drive from Center Point, IA to Ames, IA is a straightforward, one-day trip that should take you about 2 hours and 25 minutes. Primarily using roads like the Lincoln Highway and Avenue of the Saints, this route has a high highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on faster roads. With an estimated fuel cost of $19, it's an economical option for a quick journey. The Midwest scenery is consistent throughout, making it a good choice if you're looking for a simple, direct connection between these two Iowa cities without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.1 miles from Center Point, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Highway | 65.7 mi | 1h 16m |
| 73rd Street | 24.4 mi | 28m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 10.8 mi | 11m |
| Collins Road Northeast | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| East 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| 16th Avenue Southwest | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| I 35 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Lewis Access Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 65.7 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Center Point, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on State Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
State Street
2
Turn right onto CR W6E
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Franklin Street
3
Continue on CR W36
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lewis Access Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
5
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward IA 100
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
Toward IA 100
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward IA 100 West
10
Merge onto IA 100
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Collins Road Northeast
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
12
Merge onto US 30; US 218
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Avenue Southwest
13
Continue on US 30; US 218
24 mi
·
28 min
·
73rd Street
14
Continue on US 30
66 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
Lincoln Highway
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
16
Merge onto I 35
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
18
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
19
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of just over 2 hours, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Leaving mid-morning should allow you to arrive in Ames with ample time to settle in. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $19; topping up before you leave Center Point is a good idea. The longest stretch without significant turns is 65.7 miles on the Lincoln Highway, so plan any brief stops before or after this segment to maximize your driving efficiency on this turn-heavy route.
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 60.1 miles from Center Point, IA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.7 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 26 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.1 miles or 1h 12m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ames, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Center Point, 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 Center Point, IA
This is one driving day of about 120.3 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Center Point, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lincoln Highway for about 65.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.1 miles from Center Point, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Lincoln Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.7 miles.
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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 22.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR W6E / Franklin Street
Turn right onto CR W6E / Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
5
13.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
13.6 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IA 100
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward IA 100
6
13.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IA 100 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward IA 100 West
5
22.3 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshall...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.81 one way
$37.62 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.65 | $41.30 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.15 | $46.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.56 | $53.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.1 | 0 | $12.63 | $5.77 |
| Efficient EV | 30.1 | 0 | $10.53 | $4.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.1 | 0 | $16.84 | $7.70 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Ames, IA
Late night in Ames on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 9 mph
27% chance
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
32 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
2h 25m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' with a 100% highway share. While you'll be on main roads, the profile suggests a route that involves more frequent changes in direction than a pure interstate experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 65.7 miles on the Lincoln Highway, offering a good segment of steady travel. This drive is characterized by its local road feel, even on the primary routes, which can make the 2-hour-plus journey feel more engaging than a monotonous interstate slog.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.7 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CR W6E / Franklin Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 120.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (CR W6E / Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 13.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
On the drive from Center Point, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marshalltown along the way.
Marshalltown
22.3 mi in
|
~28m
About the Cities
Arriving 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 2h 25m. Total distance: 120.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.7 miles on Lincoln Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Ames, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (CR W6E / Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 13.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ames, 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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