Origin
Jesup, IA
Late night in Jesup on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jesup, 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 13m
Distance
113.4 mi
182 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 4m
★
6 AM
2h 13m
8 AM
2h 32m
10 AM
2h 20m
12 PM
2h 18m
3 PM
2h 21m
5 PM
2h 31m
8 PM
2h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jesup, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 113.4-mile journey from Jesup, IA to Ames, IA is a straightforward hop within the Midwest, easily manageable as a single-day trip. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 13 minutes on the road, with an estimated fuel cost of $17. The drive primarily utilizes I-35 and US 20, offering a mix of highway and other road types. Given its manageable length, this route allows for a flexible departure time and doesn't necessitate an overnight stop, making it a convenient option for a quick transfer or a leisurely exploration of the Iowa landscape.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.7 miles from Jesup, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 66.5 mi | 1h 16m |
| I 35 | 28.6 mi | 30m |
| US 20 | 12.7 mi | 14m |
| East 13th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Benson Shady Grove Avenue | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| 6th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| I 35 Business | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 66.5 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jesup, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto CR D22
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Street
3
Turn right onto V65
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Benson Shady Grove Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
5
Merge onto US 20
13 mi
·
14 min
·
US 20
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
66 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 35
29 mi
·
30 min
·
I 35
9
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 35 Business
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
10
Turn right onto I 35 Business
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East 13th Street
11
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 13-minute drive, flexibility is your best friend. You can depart anytime that suits your schedule, but consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour if applicable. With only 113.4 miles and a fuel cost around $17, you won't need frequent stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Ames, though services are generally available along I-35. The longest stretch on the Avenue of the Saints is a good opportunity to settle in and enjoy the drive without needing immediate attention to exits.
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 56.7 miles from Jesup, IA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.5 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 25 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.7 miles or 1h 7m 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 48m
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 Jesup, 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 Jesup, IA
This is one driving day of about 113.4 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Jesup, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 66.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.7 miles from Jesup, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.5 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 110.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR D22 / South Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR D22 / South Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
V65 / Benson Shady Grove Avenue
Turn right onto V65 / Benson Shady Grove Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
15.2 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
81.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
4
110.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 7m in
|
I 35 Business
Take the exit onto I 35 Business toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.73 one way
$35.46 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.47 | $38.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.82 | $43.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.04 | $50.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34 | 0 | $11.91 | $5.44 |
| Efficient EV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.92 | $4.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.4 | 0 | $15.88 | $7.26 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
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
21 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 13m 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?
The drive features a mixed profile, with 37% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 66.5 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, offering a substantial period of consistent travel. This route balances faster highway sections with potentially more varied road conditions, providing a dynamic driving experience. It's not a monotonous interstate grind, nor is it exclusively a winding country road, but rather a blend that keeps things interesting as you progress from Jesup to Ames.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.5 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
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 0.5 miles in near CR D22 / South Street.
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 2h 13m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (CR D22 / South Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (V65 / Benson Shady Grove Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 15.2 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,201 ft
920 ft
Total Climb
281 ft
Total Descent
320 ft
Highest Point
1,201 ft
~81 mi in
Elevation Range
281 ft
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 13m. Total distance: 113.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.5 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.5 miles (CR D22 / South Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (V65 / Benson Shady Grove Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 15.2 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Ames, IA
More trips to Ames, IA
Explore more options from Jesup, IA or browse trips ending in Ames, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.