Origin
Ames, IA
Afternoon in Ames on Sunday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Bellevue, IA
Drive Time
3h 57m
Distance
195.1 mi
314 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
Photo: Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Ames, IA to Bellevue, IA covers 195.1 miles and takes about 3h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 30, 200th Avenue, Marion Airport Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 92.6 miles on US 30. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
97.5 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Ames, IA to Bellevue, IA covers 195.1 miles and takes about 3h 57m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 30 is the longest continuous segment at about 92.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 195.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 97.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
4
4.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward US 30 East: Nevada
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 30 East: Nevada
5
97.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m in
Take the exit toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
4
107.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m in
|
IA 100 / Collins Road Northeast
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100 / Collins Road Northeast
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
114.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
|
US 151 / Marion Airport Road
Turn right onto US 151 / Marion Airport Road
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Ames, IA to Bellevue, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marion along the way.
Marion
97.2 mi in
|
~1h 55m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 30 | 92.6 mi | 1h 47m |
| 200th Avenue | 32.4 mi | 37m |
| Marion Airport Road | 24.1 mi | 27m |
| Great River Road | 16.7 mi | 22m |
| IA 100 | 9.4 mi | 11m |
| Collins Road Northeast | 5.9 mi | 7m |
| US 151 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| North Riverview Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
US 30
— 92.6 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Bellevue, IA.
1
Start on I 35 Business
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
13th Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
3
Merge onto I 35
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
Toward US 30 East: Nevada
5
Merge onto US 30
93 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
US 30
6
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
7
Continue on IA 100
9.4 mi
·
11 min
·
IA 100
8
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Collins Road Northeast
9
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 151; IA 13
10
Turn right onto US 151
24 mi
·
27 min
·
Marion Airport Road
11
Continue on US 151
32 mi
·
37 min
·
200th Avenue
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 151
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
US 151
13
Turn right onto US 52
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bellevue Road
14
Continue on US 52
9.1 mi
·
12 min
·
Great River Road
15
Continue on US 52
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Main Street
16
Continue on US 52
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Great River Road
17
Continue on US 52
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
North Riverview Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 52
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 97.5 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.6 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.5 miles or 1h 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 3h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bellevue, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ames, 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 Ames, IA
This is one driving day of about 195.1 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ames, 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 US 30 for about 92.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 97.5 mi from Ames, IA · 1h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
98 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 97.5 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 30 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 92.6 miles.
Arriving in Bellevue, IA
The final approach into Bellevue, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Bellevue, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.63 one way
$59.27 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $32.67 | $65.34 |
| premium | $4.80 | $36.83 | $73.66 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $43.34 | $86.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.5 | 0 | $20.49 | $9.36 |
| Efficient EV | 48.8 | 0 | $17.07 | $7.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78 | 0 | $27.31 | $12.49 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Destination
Bellevue, IA
Afternoon in Bellevue on Sunday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
6 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
3h 57m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ames, IA to Bellevue, IA covers 195.1 miles and takes about 3h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 30, 200th Avenue, Marion Airport Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 97.5 miles from Ames, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.63 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 195.1 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 97.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Ames, IA to Bellevue, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marion along the way.
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