Origin
Stuart, IA
Late night in Stuart on Sunday
Local time
2:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stuart, 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 25m
Distance
74.6 mi
120 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
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stuart, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Stuart, IA to Ames, IA is 74.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 25 minutes via I 80 and I 35, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip entirely within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. You'll be sticking to major interstates for the vast majority of the journey, making it a quick and efficient drive. With a duration under two hours and a low estimated fuel cost, this route is ideal for a short day trip or a convenient leg of a longer journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 43.5 mi | 48m |
| I 35 | 27 mi | 29m |
| East 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| South Division Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 13th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 43.5 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stuart, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on CR P28
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Division Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
3
Merge onto I 80; US 6
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 80; US 6
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi
·
16 min
·
I 80
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
27 mi
·
29 min
·
I 35
Toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
7
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
8
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.3 miles from Stuart, 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 0.8 and 71.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 80; US 6
Merge onto I 80; US 6
Merge point - match speed before joining
9
30.2 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
8
44.6 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, De...
4
71.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward USDA Veterinary Labs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.66 one way
$23.33 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.81 | $25.61 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.36 | $28.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.47 | $32.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.83 | $3.58 |
| Efficient EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.53 | $2.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.44 | $4.77 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Sunday
Local time
2:33 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
3 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 25m 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 drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with a substantial 94% of the journey taking place on interstates. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 43.5 miles on I 80, offering a consistent pace. The route primarily utilizes I 80 and I 35, meaning you'll experience the characteristic characteristics of these major roadways. Expect smooth sailing for most of the trip, with the final approach into Ames involving East 13th Street.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.5 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
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 25m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 80; US 6): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 30.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Stuart, IA and Ames, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City and Des Moines.
Minneapolis
30.2 mi in
|
~33m
|
via I 80
Kansas City
30.2 mi in
|
~33m
|
via I 80
Des Moines
44.6 mi in
|
~50m
|
via I 35
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 25m. Total distance: 74.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.5 miles on I 80. 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 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 80; US 6): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 30.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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