Origin
Tama, IA
Late night in Tama on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tama, IA to Ames, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
57.3 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
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.
Tama, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward trip through the heart of the Midwest, the 57.3-mile journey from Tama to Ames is a perfect fit. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 10 minutes on the road, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $9 for fuel to complete the trek. The route relies primarily on the Lincoln Highway, East 13th Street, and a short segment of I-35. Since both towns are located within Iowa, you will remain in the same region throughout the drive, enjoying a consistent Midwestern landscape. It is a practical, no-fuss connection that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Highway | 50.8 mi | 58m |
| East 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| I 35 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| South County Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Harding Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| State Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West 13th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 13th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 50.8 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tama, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on US 63
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
State Street
2
Turn left onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West 13th Street
3
Turn right onto US 63
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Harding Street
4
Continue on US 63
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
South County Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
6
Merge onto US 30
51 mi
·
58 min
·
Lincoln Highway
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
8
Merge onto I 35
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
10
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
11
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 28.7 miles from Tama, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 54.3 — 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
|
~0m in
|
US 63 / West 13th Street
Turn left onto US 63 / West 13th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 63 / Harding Street
Turn right onto US 63 / Harding Street
Navigation decision point
3
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
52.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
4
54.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward USDA Veterinary Labs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.96 one way
$17.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.84 | $19.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.03 | $22.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.65 | $25.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.02 | $3.67 |
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 Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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 drive leans heavily into a turn-heavy local feel rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While you will spend a small portion of the trip on the highway, the majority of your time is spent navigating local roads, which account for the bulk of the 57.3-mile distance. You will experience a significant 50.8-mile stretch on the Lincoln Highway, providing the longest uninterrupted segment of your travel. Because the highway share is only 2, you should be prepared for more frequent turns and varied road conditions compared to a standard interstate transit. It is a hands-on driving experience that requires your attention as you transition between local streets and highway segments.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.8 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 63 / West 13th Street.
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 7 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 (US 63 / West 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 63 / Harding Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 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 Tama, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Usda Veterinary Labs along the way.
Usda Veterinary Labs
54.3 mi in
|
~1h 4m
About the Cities
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: 57.3 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 (2%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.8 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 0.3 miles (US 63 / West 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 63 / Harding Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 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.
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 Tama, IA or browse trips ending in Ames, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.