Origin
Newton, IA
Late night in Newton on Friday
Local time
3:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newton, IA to Ames, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
57.8 mi
93 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newton, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Newton, IA to Ames, IA is 57.8 miles and takes about 1h 10m via 1st Street South, South 8th Avenue West, and West 12th Street South, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Iowa, making it a straightforward local drive. Given its short duration and minimal highway use, it’s a good option for a quick excursion or a convenient way to connect these two Iowa communities. You won't be spending much time on major highways, so expect a more local feel throughout.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 25.7 mi | 28m |
| US 6 | 25.5 mi | 28m |
| East 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| South 8th Avenue West | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South 12th Avenue West | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 1st Avenue East | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| West 12th Street South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 25.7 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newton, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on US 6
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue East
2
Turn left onto 1st Street South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street South
3
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue West
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 8th Avenue West
4
Continue on West 12th Street South
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
West 12th Street South
5
Keep slight right at fork onto South 12th Avenue West
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
South 12th Avenue West
6
Turn left onto US 6; IA 14
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 6; IA 14
7
Take the ramp onto US 6
25 mi
·
27 min
·
US 6
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
10
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 North: Minneapolis
11
Merge onto I 35
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 35
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
13
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
14
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.9 miles from Newton, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 29.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
1st Street South
Turn left onto 1st Street South
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South 8th Avenue West
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue West
Navigation decision point
4
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
South 12th Avenue West
Keep slight right at fork onto South 12th Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
27.7 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
6
29.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35 toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.96 one way
$17.92 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $9.83 | $19.65 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.21 | $22.43 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $12.74 | $25.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.07 | $2.77 |
| Efficient EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.06 | $2.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.1 | 0 | $8.09 | $3.70 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 Friday
Local time
3:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
1h 10m 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?
This route is entirely on surface roads, with a 0% highway share. The longest stretch without a turn is not specified, but the profile indicates it's a turn-heavy local drive. You'll be navigating through towns and local streets for the entire 57.8 miles. Be prepared for frequent turns and traffic signals as you make your way from Newton to Ames.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.7 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 6. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near 1st Street South.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 10m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (1st Street South): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (South 8th Avenue West): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (South 12th Avenue West): 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 Newton, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Usda Veterinary Labs along the way.
Usda Veterinary Labs
54.8 mi in
|
~1h 4m
About the Cities
Starting in Newton, IA
Full guide →Founded 1850
Newton is a city of 15,000 people (2018) in Central Iowa.
Top landmarks
- • Jasper County Courthouse — courthouse in Iowa, United States
- • Newton Downtown Historic District — nationally recognized historic district located in Newton, Iowa, United States
Arriving 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
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 1h 10m. Total distance: 57.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.7 miles on I 35. 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: at 0.3 miles (1st Street South): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (South 8th Avenue West): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (South 12th Avenue West): 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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