Origin
Ames, IA
Afternoon in Ames on Sunday
Local time
2:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Brooklyn, IA
Drive Time
1h 45m
Distance
81.3 mi
131 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
Ames, IA
Anton Belitskiy
Brooklyn, IA
Jean-Daniel Francoeur
Trip Overview
The drive from Ames, IA to Brooklyn, IA covers 81.3 miles and takes about 1h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 30, 100th Street, 380th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.1 miles on US 30. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.35 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
40.7 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 45m highway drive covering 81.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 30 and 100th Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 51.1 miles on US 30.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 51.1 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,112 ft
822 ft
Total Climb
444 ft
Total Descent
479 ft
Highest Point
1,112 ft
~23.7 mi in
Elevation Range
290 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 30 and 100th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 45m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 56.8 miles (US 63 / West 13th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 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
4
56.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
US 63 / West 13th Street
Turn left onto US 63 / West 13th Street
Navigation decision point
4
57.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
US 63 / State Street
Turn right onto US 63 / State Street
Navigation decision point
4
80.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
|
CR V18 / 175th Street
Turn right onto CR V18 / 175th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 30 | 51.1 mi | 59m |
| 100th Street | 8 mi | 12m |
| 380th Avenue | 7.5 mi | 10m |
| J Avenue | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| 13th Street | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| I 35 | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 175th Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 30
— 51.1 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Brooklyn, 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
51 mi
·
59 min
·
US 30
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
7
Turn right onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
South County Road
8
Continue on US 63
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Harding Street
9
Turn left onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West 13th Street
10
Turn right onto US 63
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
State Street
11
Continue on US 63
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
J Avenue
12
Continue on US 63
8.0 mi
·
12 min
·
100th Street
13
Turn left onto US 6; US 63
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
380th Avenue
14
Turn right onto CR V18
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
175th Street
15
Continue on CR V18
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Jackson Street
16
Arrive at destination
CR V18
Trip Plan
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 40.7 miles from Ames, IA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.1 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 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.7 miles or 50m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn, 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 81.3 miles and 1h 45m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 30 for about 51.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.7 mi from Ames, IA · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 40.7 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Brooklyn, IA
The final approach into Brooklyn, 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 Brooklyn, 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
$12.35 one way
$24.70 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $13.61 | $27.23 |
| premium | $4.80 | $15.35 | $30.70 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.06 | $36.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.54 | $3.90 |
| Efficient EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.11 | $3.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.38 | $5.20 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (64% 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
Brooklyn, IA
Afternoon in Brooklyn on Sunday
Local time
2:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
41 mi in
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
7 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 45m 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 Brooklyn, IA covers 81.3 miles and takes about 1h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 30, 100th Street, 380th Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.7 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 $12.35 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 45m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 56.8 miles (US 63 / West 13th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Ames, IA to Brooklyn, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 822 ft to 1,112 ft elevation with about 444 ft of total climbing.
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