Origin
Ames, IA
Afternoon in Ames on Friday
Local time
2:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Fairfax, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
101.3 mi
163 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 55m
★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Fairfax, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
The drive from Ames, IA to Fairfax, IA covers 101.3 miles and takes about 2h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 30, 13th Street, 80th Street Southwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93.2 miles on US 30. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.84 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.
Midpoint
50.6 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 101.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 4m highway drive covering 101.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 30 and 13th Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 93.2 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 12 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 93.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 30 and 13th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 9 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 97.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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
4
97.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
Take the exit toward Fairfax
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Fairfax
4
100.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
|
Losey Avenue
Turn left onto Losey Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
101.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m in
|
Vanderbilt Street
At end of road, turn right onto Vanderbilt Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 30 | 93.2 mi | 1h 47m |
| 13th Street | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| 80th Street Southwest | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| I 35 | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| Williams Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Losey Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Vanderbilt Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 30
— 93.2 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Fairfax, 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
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward Fairfax
7
Turn right onto 80th Street Southwest
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
80th Street Southwest
8
Turn right onto US 151
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Williams Boulevard
9
Turn left onto Losey Avenue
46 ft
·
2 sec
·
Losey Avenue
10
Continue on Losey Avenue
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
Losey Avenue
11
At end of road, turn right onto Vanderbilt Street
495 ft
·
21 sec
·
Vanderbilt Street
12
Arrive at destination
Vanderbilt Street
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 50.6 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.2 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 22 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.6 miles or 1h 1m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairfax, 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 101.3 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Ames, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 30 for about 93.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.6 mi from Ames, IA · 1h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50.6 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 93.2 miles.
Arriving in Fairfax, IA
The final approach into Fairfax, 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 Fairfax, 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
$15.84 one way
$31.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.39 | $34.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.49 | $38.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.37 | $44.73 |
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: 35.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.64 | $4.86 |
| Efficient EV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.86 | $4.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.5 | 0 | $14.18 | $6.48 |
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.
Destination
Fairfax, IA
Afternoon in Fairfax on Friday
Local time
2:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
21 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 4m 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 Fairfax, IA covers 101.3 miles and takes about 2h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 30, 13th Street, 80th Street Southwest. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.6 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 $15.84 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 2h 4m drive. You will face about 9 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 97.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Ames, IA to Fairfax, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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