Origin
Ames, IA
Afternoon in Ames on Saturday
Local time
3:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Garner, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
82.7 mi
133 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 40m
★
6 AM
1h 48m
8 AM
2h 4m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 52m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 3m
8 PM
1h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Garner, IA
Jay's Photography
Trip Overview
Ames to Garner is 82.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 47 minutes via I 35 Business and US 69, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, moving through the heart of the Midwest. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it an easy option for a single-day journey without much fuss. Plan for about $13 in fuel costs, and you'll be on your way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.4 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 Business | 29 mi | 31m |
| US 69 | 25.9 mi | 35m |
| Little Wall Lake Road | 19.5 mi | 26m |
| US 20 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| 220th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| US 18 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35 Business
— 29 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Garner, IA.
1
Start on I 35 Business
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
13th Street
2
Turn left onto I 35 Business
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 35 Business
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
4
Merge onto US 20
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
US 20
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward US 69
6
Turn right onto US 69
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Little Wall Lake Road
7
Turn right onto US 69; IA 3
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
220th Street
8
Turn straight onto US 69; IA 3
12 mi
·
17 min
·
US 69; IA 3
9
Continue on US 69
14 mi
·
18 min
·
US 69
10
At end of road, turn right onto US 18
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 18
11
Turn right onto State Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
State Street
12
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
69 ft
·
1 sec
·
East 3rd Street
13
Arrive at destination
East 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 47 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day, offering flexibility for your departure time. With only 82.7 miles, you won't need many stops, but it's wise to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially with the estimated $13 cost. The longest stretch is 29 miles on I 35 Business, so consider filling up before you hit that segment if you're running low. You'll mainly be on US 69 and I 35 Business, so check local conditions for those specific roads before you head out.
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 41.4 miles from Ames, IA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.4 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Garner, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ames, IA
This is one driving day of about 82.7 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Ames, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 Business for about 29 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.4 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 82.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 35 Business
Turn left onto I 35 Business toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
4
31.6 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
4
35.2 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward US 69
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 69
4
55.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
US 69; IA 3 / 220th Street
Turn right onto US 69; IA 3 / 220th Street
Navigation decision point
5
82.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
East 3rd Street
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.93 one way
$25.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.20 | $28.39 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.91 | $31.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.26 | $36.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.68 | $3.97 |
| Efficient EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.24 | $3.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.1 | 0 | $11.58 | $5.29 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Garner, IA
Afternoon in Garner on Saturday
Local time
3:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
1 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 47m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 71% of it on faster roads like I 35 Business and US 69. You'll encounter one uninterrupted stretch of 29 miles on I 35 Business, offering a consistent pace. The road profile is largely a highway-focused drive, meaning you can expect straightforward navigation and relatively smooth travel for most of the 82.7 miles. While not overly technical, it offers a reliable path between Ames and Garner.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 Business is the longest continuous segment at about 29 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 Business and US 69. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 35 Business.
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 1h 47m 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 2.7 miles (I 35 Business): Navigation decision point; at 31.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 35.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Starting in Ames, IA
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 82.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ames, IA to Garner, IA covers 82.7 miles and takes about 1h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35 Business, US 69, Little Wall Lake Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.4 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 $12.93 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 47m 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 2.7 miles (I 35 Business): Navigation decision point; at 31.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 35.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Ames, IA to Garner, 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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