Origin
Ames, IA
Evening in Ames on Sunday
Local time
6:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Cresco, IA
Drive Time
3h 15m
Distance
159.3 mi
256 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 4m
★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 40m
10 AM
3h 24m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 25m
5 PM
3h 38m
8 PM
3h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Anton Belitskiy
Cresco, IA
DS stories
Trip Overview
The drive from Ames, IA to Cresco, IA covers 159.3 miles and takes about 3h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35 North, US 18 East, US 218 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.20 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
79.6 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 15m drive with frequent turns across 159.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 North is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Ames, IA to Cresco, IA is easy. At 3h 15m 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 Ames, IA to Cresco, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 18 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 218 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Monroe Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 9 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 2nd Avenue Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 3rd Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
I 35 North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Cresco, IA.
1
Start on 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
13th Street
2
Turn left onto I 35 North: Minneapolis
76 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
I 35 North: Minneapolis
3
Take the exit slight right toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
4
Merge slight left
30 mi
·
35 min
5
Take the exit slight right toward US 218, CR T44: Floyd
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 218, CR T44: Floyd
6
Turn left onto Monroe Street
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Monroe Street
7
Turn right onto State Highway 9
12 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 9
8
Continue on Highway 9
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 9
9
Continue on West Main Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
10
Continue on State Highway 9
21 mi
·
28 min
·
State Highway 9
11
Continue on 2nd Avenue Southwest
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
2nd Avenue Southwest
12
Turn left onto 3rd Street Southwest
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
3rd Street Southwest
13
Continue on 3rd Street West
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Street West
14
Turn right onto 8th Avenue West
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Avenue West
15
Arrive at your destination
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 79.6 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 37m 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.6 miles or 1h 37m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cresco, 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 159.3 miles and 3h 15m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.6 mi from Ames, IA · 1h 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 79.6 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cresco, IA
The final approach into Cresco, 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 Cresco, 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
$24.20 one way
$48.39 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $26.67 | $53.35 |
| premium | $4.80 | $30.07 | $60.15 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $35.39 | $70.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.73 | $7.65 |
| Efficient EV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.94 | $6.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.7 | 0 | $22.30 | $10.20 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Cresco, IA
Evening in Cresco on Sunday
Local time
6:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
4 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 15m 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 Cresco, IA covers 159.3 miles and takes about 3h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35 North, US 18 East, US 218. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.6 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 $24.20 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.
The drive from Ames, IA to Cresco, IA is easy. At 3h 15m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ames, IA to Cresco, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Ames, IA to Cresco, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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