Origin
Norwalk, IA
Late night in Norwalk on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norwalk, 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
1h 3m
Distance
45.8 mi
74 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norwalk, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 45.8-mile drive from Norwalk to Ames, Iowa, is easily managed as a day trip, taking about 1 hour and 3 minutes. Your journey will primarily utilize I-35, with some initial time on Southwest 9th Street and the John MacVicar Freeway. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $7, this is an economical option for traversing the Midwest. The route is focused on efficient travel, making it a practical choice for getting between these two Iowa communities without unnecessary detours. You won't need an overnight stay for this short hop.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 25.1 mi | 27m |
| Southwest 9th Street | 6 mi | 10m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| East 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| County Road G14 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| County Road R63 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Avenue | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Locust Street | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 25.1 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norwalk, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
82 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR G14
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Avenue
3
Continue on County Road G14
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road G14
4
At end of road, turn left onto CR R63
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road R63
5
Continue on CR R63
5.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Southwest 9th Street
6
Turn straight onto Southwest 9th Street
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Southwest 9th Street
7
Continue on Southwest 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Southwest 8th Street
8
Continue on 8th Street
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
8th Street
9
Turn right onto Locust Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Locust Street
10
At end of road, turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I-235 east
12
Keep slight right at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 69: East 14th Street, East 15th Street
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 235
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35
25 mi
·
27 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
16
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
17
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.9 miles from Norwalk, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 13 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
CR R63 / County Road R63
At end of road, turn left onto CR R63 / County Road R63
Navigation decision point
4
10.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
Locust Street
Turn right onto Locust Street
Navigation decision point
5
11.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the ramp toward I-235 east
Navigation decision point
Toward I-235 east
8
12 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 69: East 14th Street, East 15th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 69: East 14th Street, East 15th Stree...
5
13 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.16 one way
$14.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.86 | $15.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.81 | $17.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.11 | $20.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.81 | $2.20 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.01 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
12:58 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
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
1h 3m 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 highway-focused drive for about 65% of this route, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on the interstate. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 25.1 miles on I-35, offering a consistent pace. While largely interstate, the initial segments on local roads provide a brief transition before merging onto the faster highway. This drive is designed for expediency rather than scenic exploration, with the character remaining fairly consistent as you travel north.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.1 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Southwest 9th Street. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near CR R63 / County Road R63.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.8 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (CR R63 / County Road R63): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles (Locust Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
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 Norwalk, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Usda Veterinary Labs along the way.
Usda Veterinary Labs
42.8 mi in
|
~57m
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 1h 3m. Total distance: 45.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.1 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 2.5 miles (CR R63 / County Road R63): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles (Locust Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
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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