Trip from Waterloo, 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 34m

Distance

100.9 mi

162 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min

4 AM

1h 28m ★

6 AM

1h 35m

8 AM

1h 49m

10 AM

1h 40m

12 PM

1h 39m

3 PM

1h 41m

5 PM

1h 49m

8 PM

1h 31m

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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city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

Waterloo, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Story County, Iowa, United States

Ames, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 100.9-mile drive from Waterloo, IA to Ames, IA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 34 minutes. You'll navigate local roads for the entirety of this journey, with no highway driving involved, making it a straightforward, turn-heavy experience. Budget around $15 for fuel for this relatively short hop across Iowa's Midwest landscape. Since there are no designated stops and the longest stretch isn't specified, you can expect a continuous drive that allows for flexibility in your timing. This route is perfect for a quick transition between two points within the state.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

50.5 miles from Waterloo, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Washington Street	—	—
West 5th Street	—	—
West 4th Street	—	—
West Ridgeway Avenue	—	—
Sergeant Road	—	—
Avenue of the Saints	—	—
I 35 South	—	—
I 35	—	—

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Washington Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on West 4th Street

75 ft · 6 sec · West 4th Street

Turn right onto Washington Street

384 ft · 10 sec · Washington Street

Turn right onto West 5th Street

0.3 mi · 34 sec · West 5th Street

Continue on West 4th Street

2.4 mi · 4 min · West 4th Street

Turn slight right onto West Ridgeway Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Ridgeway Avenue

Turn left onto Sergeant Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Sergeant Road

Take the ramp left

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

61 mi · 1 hr 10 min · Avenue of the Saints

Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South: Des Moines

0.3 mi · 55 sec · I 35 South: Des Moines

Merge slight left

29 mi · 30 min

Take the exit slight right toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs

0.4 mi · 51 sec · I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs

Turn right onto East 13th Street

2.4 mi · 4 min · East 13th Street

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Given this is a short 1-day trip of just over 100 miles and 1.5 hours, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best. The $15 fuel cost is minimal, so topping up before you leave Waterloo is a good idea, but you shouldn't face any fuel anxiety en route. Since there are no scheduled stops and it's not a particularly long drive, you can easily pace yourself. A practical tip for this turn-heavy route is to pay close attention to your GPS or navigation system, especially as you transition between the named local roads like Washington Street and West 5th Street, to avoid missing any crucial turns.

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 50.5 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 47m into the drive.

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 22 miles or 20m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 50.5 miles or 47m 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 17m

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

Day 1

Settle into the route from Waterloo, IA

This is one driving day of about 100.9 miles and 1h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Waterloo, IA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Iowa Falls, IA

50 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.

Popular next leg

Iowa Falls, IA to Ames, IA

53.1 mi · 1h 5m

Pacing Suggestions

Reinbeck, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Iowa Falls, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 50.5 miles from Waterloo, 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

Potter’s Shoppe & Eatery

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ames, Iowa

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 100.9

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+15159164389

Visit website

The Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ames, Iowa

1.6 mi

Cafe Beaudelaire

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ames, Iowa

1.8 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Cafe Diem

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ames, Iowa

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 100.9

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+15159563556

Visit website

KaffeGeita

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Story City, Iowa

0.6 mi

Morning Bell Coffee Roasters

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ames, Iowa

0.8 mi

Potter’s Shoppe & Eatery

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 100.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+15159164389

Visit website

The Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 100.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+15152920100

Visit website

Cafe Beaudelaire

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 100.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15152927429

Visit website

Tosca

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately mile 100.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–9 pm

+15152925258

Visit website

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 100.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15154505004

Visit website

Burgie's Coffee | South Ames

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour Moderately mile 100.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+15152339004

Visit website

Provisions Lot F

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30 mile 100.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+15155981783

Visit website

Business Cafe

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 100.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 7:30 am–3 pm

+15152949081

Visit website

Cafe Diem

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 100.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+15159563556

Visit website

KaffeGeita

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 86.5

Story City, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+15157332029

Visit website

Morning Bell Coffee Roasters

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 100.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Vinyl Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 100.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+15154602116

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 100.9

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 100.9

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 100.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 100.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 100.9

Ames, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

Discover Ames

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 100.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–4:30 pm

+15152324032

Visit website

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.77 one way

$31.55 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$17.32	$34.64
premium	$4.89	$19.42	$38.83
diesel	$5.61	$22.28	$44.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	30.3	$10.59	$4.84
Efficient EV	25.2	$8.83	$4.04
EV Truck/SUV	40.4	$14.13	$6.46

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (66% 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

Waterloo, IA

Late night in Waterloo on Sunday

Local time

2:33 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ames, IA

Late night in Ames on Sunday

Local time

2:33 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

2 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 34m 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 for the full 100.9 miles between Waterloo and Ames. With 0% highway share, this route keeps you on city streets and local roads, including Washington Street, West 5th Street, and West 4th Street, for the entire 1 hour and 34-minute duration. While the data doesn't specify the longest uninterrupted stretch, the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent changes in direction rather than long, straightaways. You'll likely experience a more connected-to-the-ground feel as you pass through communities rather than a high-speed transit.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Main road: Washington Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Waterloo, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 1h 34m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waterloo, IA to Ames, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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 34m. Total distance: 100.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waterloo, IA to Ames, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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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Return Trip

Ames, IA to Waterloo, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

97.6 mi 1h 56m

Explore more options from Waterloo, IA or browse trips ending in Ames, IA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.

Trip from Waterloo, IA to Ames, IA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Potter’s Shoppe & Eatery

Cafe Diem

Potter’s Shoppe & Eatery

The Cafe

Cafe Beaudelaire

Tosca

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

Burgie's Coffee | South Ames

Provisions Lot F

Business Cafe

Cafe Diem

KaffeGeita

Morning Bell Coffee Roasters

Vinyl Cafe

Labyrinth Coffee

Bookends Cafe

Cafe Milo

Juniper & Olive Co.

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

EV Connect Charging Station

Discover Ames

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Waterloo, IA

Ames, IA

Same local time

2 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 34m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Arriving in Ames, IA

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Ames, IA

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