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Trip from Reinbeck, 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 46m

Distance

78.4 mi

126 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 39m ★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Reinbeck, IA, IA

Reinbeck, IA

Wolfgang Weiser

city in Story County, Iowa, United States

Ames, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 75.9-mile drive from Reinbeck, IA, to Ames, IA, is a straightforward, one-day trip taking approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes. You'll primarily navigate local roads, including Grundy Avenue, 260th Street, and Diagonal Road, with no highway driving involved. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $12, making it an economical option. Given its short duration and local road nature, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. It offers a simple, direct connection within the Midwest region of Iowa.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

39.2 miles from Reinbeck, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Lincoln Highway 27.8 mi 32m
Sanford Avenue 15.9 mi 21m
Diagonal Road 7.4 mi 11m
240th Street 6.3 mi 9m
Marsh Avenue 5.9 mi 8m
160th Street 4.3 mi 5m
East 13th Street 2.7 mi 5m
IA 330 1.6 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Lincoln Highway — 27.8 mi, about 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Reinbeck, IA and Ames, IA.

1

Start on Blackhawk Street

0.1 mi · 38 sec · Blackhawk Street
2

At end of road, turn left onto IA 175

0.5 mi · 45 sec · Grundy Avenue
3

Continue on 260th Street

0.5 mi · 42 sec · 260th Street
4

Turn straight onto IA 175

3.0 mi · 4 min · Diagonal Road
5

Continue on IA 175

0.3 mi · 23 sec · 1st Street
6

Continue on IA 175

4.5 mi · 6 min · Diagonal Road
7

Continue on IA 175

1.5 mi · 2 min · G Avenue
8

Continue on IA 14; IA 175

6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street
9

Turn left onto IA 14

16 mi · 21 min · Sanford Avenue
10

Turn right onto IA 330

4.3 mi · 5 min · 160th Street
11

Keep slight left at fork onto IA 330

1.2 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
12

Continue on IA 330

5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue
13

Turn right onto IA 330

1.6 mi · 2 min · IA 330
14

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec
15

Merge onto US 30

28 mi · 32 min · Lincoln Highway
16

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
17

Merge onto I 35

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 35
18

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
19

Turn left onto East 13th Street

2.7 mi · 5 min · East 13th Street
20

Arrive at destination

I 35 Business

Trip Plan

For this 1 hour and 24-minute journey, flexibility is key. You can easily depart Reinbeck at your leisure, as the 75.9 miles won't require extensive planning for stops. With a fuel cost estimated at just $12, you likely won't need to worry about frequent refueling. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means staying alert to road signs and navigation is important. A good tip is to ensure your GPS is fully charged or you have a reliable map, as you'll be making more frequent directional changes than on a highway 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 39.2 miles from Reinbeck, IA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.8 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 17 miles or 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 39.2 miles or 56m 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 29m

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 Reinbeck, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Reinbeck, IA

This is one driving day of about 78.4 miles and 1h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Reinbeck, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lincoln Highway for about 27.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Albion, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Albion, IA

39 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

Conrad, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Albion, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.2 miles from Reinbeck, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Ames, Iowa

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 78.4

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15154505004

Visit website

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 78.4

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15154505004

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 78.4

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 78.4

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 78.4

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 78.4

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 78.4

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 72.8

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 72.8

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 78.4

Ames, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

Discover Ames

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 78.4

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–4:30 pm

+15152324032

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 75.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | IA 175 / Grundy Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto IA 175 / Grundy Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
16.6 mi into trip | ~25m in | IA 14 / Sanford Avenue

Turn left onto IA 14 / Sanford Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
36.8 mi into trip | ~52m in | IA 330 / North Main Street

Keep slight left at fork onto IA 330 / North Main Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
73.6 mi into trip | ~1h 37m in

Take the exit toward I 35 North: Minneapolis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
4
75.4 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in

Take the exit toward USDA Veterinary Labs

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward USDA Veterinary Labs

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.26 one way

$24.51 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.46 $26.92
premium $4.89 $15.09 $30.17
diesel $5.61 $17.31 $34.62

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.5 0 $8.23 $3.76
Efficient EV 19.6 0 $6.86 $3.14
EV Truck/SUV 31.4 0 $10.98 $5.02

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Reinbeck, IA

Late night in Reinbeck on Sunday

Local time

3:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ames, IA

Late night in Ames on Sunday

Local time

3:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

72°F

Albion, IA

39 mi in

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

22 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

1h 46m 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 on this route, with a 0% highway share. The roads are predominantly local, meaning you'll be navigating a series of turns and changes in direction rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. While there's no specific mention of the longest continuous segment, the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent adjustments are part of the experience. This type of driving often means you'll be passing through smaller communities and more varied rural landscapes as you make your way across Iowa.

Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.8 mi on Lincoln Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IA 175 / Grundy Avenue.

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 78.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (IA 175 / Grundy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 16.6 miles (IA 14 / Sanford Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 36.8 miles (IA 330 / North Main Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

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 46m. Total distance: 78.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (4%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 27.8 miles on Lincoln Highway. 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 0.1 miles (IA 175 / Grundy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 16.6 miles (IA 14 / Sanford Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 36.8 miles (IA 330 / North Main Street): 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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