Origin
Jefferson, IA
Late night in Jefferson on Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jefferson, 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
58m
Distance
43.1 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jefferson, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Planning a short hop from Jefferson to Ames? This drive covers 41.7 miles and is estimated to take around 47 minutes, making it a perfect one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads like North Elm Street, 220nd Street, and 230th Street, with no highway driving involved. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is about $6, offering a budget-friendly option. This route is a straightforward local drive within the Midwest region of Iowa, ideal for a quick connection between these two communities. It’s a simple, direct trip that won’t take up your whole day.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 31 mi | 40m |
| 230th Street | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| North Elm Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| University Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Grand Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| South 4th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Grand Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 13th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 31 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on West Lincolnway Street
22 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Lincolnway Street
2
Turn left onto IA 4
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Elm Street
3
Turn right onto US 30
31 mi
·
40 min
·
220th Street
4
Continue on US 30
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
230th Street
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Iowa State University
6
Turn left onto University Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
University Boulevard
7
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 4th Street
8
Turn left onto South Grand Avenue
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Grand Avenue
9
Continue on I 35 Business; US 69
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Grand Avenue
10
Turn right onto I 35 Business
117 ft
·
3 sec
·
13th Street
11
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.6 miles from Jefferson, 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 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 43.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 4 / North Elm Street
Turn left onto IA 4 / North Elm Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 30 / 220th Street
Turn right onto US 30 / 220th Street
Navigation decision point
4
39.9 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward Iowa State University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Iowa State University
3
41.3 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
South 4th Street
Turn right onto South 4th Street
Navigation decision point
4
43.1 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
I 35 Business / 13th Street
Turn right onto I 35 Business / 13th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.74 one way
$13.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.40 | $14.80 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.29 | $16.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.52 | $19.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.03 | $2.76 |
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
Ames, IA
Late night in Ames on Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Boone, IA
22 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
4 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
58m 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 drive for this 41.7-mile journey between Jefferson and Ames. With a 0% highway share, you'll be on familiar county and town roads for the entire duration. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the profile suggests a route that requires your attention with frequent turns. This means you'll be constantly engaged with the road as you navigate through Iowa's local landscape. It’s not a route for autopilot; be prepared for a more hands-on driving experience.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 4 / North Elm Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Jefferson, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 4 / North Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (US 30 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 39.9 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.
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 Jefferson, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Iowa State University along the way.
Iowa State University
39.9 mi in
|
~51m
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 58m. Total distance: 43.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31 miles on 220th Street. 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: near the start (IA 4 / North Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (US 30 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 39.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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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