Woodbine, IA to Ames, IA is 122.1 miles and takes about 2h 52m via US 30, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the heart of the Midwest. Expect a local drive with plenty of turns, rather than a straight shot on a major interstate. With only one stop recommended and a drive under three hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day, making it a convenient option for getting from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
61.1 miles from Woodbine, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
44.4 mi
58m
US 30
29.9 mi
44m
South 6th Street
16.5 mi
23m
County Road N33
10.3 mi
13m
County Road F50
8.3 mi
11m
230th Street
7.6 mi
8m
University Boulevard
1.2 mi
2m
Grand Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 44.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbine, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on this road
72 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 6th Street
137 ft·8 sec·6th Street
3
Turn right onto Lincoln Way
0.4 mi·42 sec·Lincoln Way
4
Turn right onto Bus Brown Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Bus Brown Drive
5
Turn left onto US 30
8.3 mi·11 min·County Road F50
6
Continue on US 30
0.7 mi·1 min·South 3rd Street
7
Continue on US 30
17 mi·23 min·South 6th Street
8
Turn straight onto US 30; US 59; IA 141
0.5 mi·41 sec·260th Street
9
Turn slight right onto US 30
30 mi·44 min·US 30
Toward US 30 East: Carroll
10
Continue on US 30
10 mi·13 min·County Road N33
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 30
44 mi·58 min·220th Street
12
Continue on US 30
7.6 mi·8 min·230th Street
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Iowa State University
14
Turn left onto University Boulevard
1.2 mi·2 min·University Boulevard
15
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South 4th Street
16
Turn left onto South Grand Avenue
0.3 mi·39 sec·South Grand Avenue
17
Continue on I 35 Business; US 69
0.8 mi·2 min·Grand Avenue
18
Turn right onto I 35 Business
117 ft·3 sec·13th Street
19
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just under three hours, this drive is best suited for a single day. You'll have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, but leaving in the morning will allow for a relaxed pace and buffer time in Ames. With only one stop suggested and a fuel cost around $19, planning your fuel fill-up before you leave Woodbine is a practical step. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the "turn-heavy" nature of the route means you'll be making several directional changes throughout the 122.1 miles.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 61.1 miles from Woodbine, IA, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.4 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 27 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.1 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
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 Woodbine, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Woodbine, IA
This is one driving day of about 122.1 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Woodbine, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on 220th Street for about 44.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 122.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|6th Street
Turn right onto 6th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Lincoln Way
Turn right onto Lincoln Way
Navigation decision point
3
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|Bus Brown Drive
Turn right onto Bus Brown Drive
Navigation decision point
4
118.9 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward Iowa State University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Iowa State University
4
122.1 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|I 35 Business / 13th Street
Turn right onto I 35 Business / 13th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.09 one way
$38.18 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.96
$41.92
premium
$4.89
$23.50
$46.99
diesel
$5.61
$26.96
$53.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.6
0
$12.82
$5.86
Efficient EV
30.5
0
$10.68
$4.88
EV Truck/SUV
48.8
0
$17.09
$7.81
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Woodbine, IA
Morning
in Woodbine on Sunday
Local time
11:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ames, IA
Morning
in Ames on Sunday
Local time
11:11 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
20 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
2h 52m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a "Turn-heavy local drive" experience, with only 24% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a significant amount of local road driving, which means more frequent turns and potentially slower speeds. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 44.4 miles along 220th Street, giving you a decent period of consistent travel before transitioning back to more varied road conditions. Be prepared for the road to feel more intimate and less like a high-speed transit corridor.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.4 mi on 220th 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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 6th Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Woodbine, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 2h 52m with 24% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (6th Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (Lincoln Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Bus Brown Drive): Navigation decision point.
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.
The longest stretch is about 44.4 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (6th Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (Lincoln Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Bus Brown Drive): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ames, IA before heading back.
