Trip from Ames, IA to Independence, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 21m

Distance

121.1 mi

195 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min

4 AM

2h 12m ★

6 AM

2h 22m

8 AM

2h 41m

10 AM

2h 29m

12 PM

2h 27m

3 PM

2h 30m

5 PM

2h 40m

8 PM

2h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Ames, IA to Independence, IA covers 121.1 miles and takes about 2h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 20, I 35 Business, 13th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 87.3 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.93 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

60.5 miles from Ames, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 121.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 21m highway drive covering 121.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and I 35 Business. The longest continuous stretch is about 87.3 miles on US 20.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 87.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35 Business. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 35 Business.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Ames, IA to Independence, IA is easy. At 2h 21m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 35 Business): Navigation decision point; at 31.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 103.6 miles (US 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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

31.3 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit toward US 20 East: Waterloo

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward US 20 East: Waterloo

4

103.6 mi into trip | ~2h in | US 20

Keep slight left at fork onto US 20

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4

120.9 mi into trip | ~2h 21m in | IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East

Turn right onto IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East

Navigation decision point

5

121 mi into trip | ~2h 21m in | 5th Avenue Southeast

Turn right onto 5th Avenue Southeast

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 20	87.3 mi	1h 40m
I 35 Business	28.6 mi	31m
13th Street	2.7 mi	5m
3rd Avenue Southeast	1.4 mi	2m
1st Street East	0.1 mi	<1m
Jamestown Avenue	<0.1 mi	<1m
5th Avenue Southeast	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: US 20 — 87.3 mi, about 1h 40m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Independence, 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

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward US 20 East: Waterloo

4

Merge onto US 20

72 mi · 1 hr 22 min · US 20

5

Keep slight left at fork onto US 20

16 mi · 17 min · US 20

6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec

7

Turn left onto IA 150

324 ft · 8 sec · Jamestown Avenue

8

Continue on IA 150

1.4 mi · 2 min · 3rd Avenue Southeast

9

Turn right onto IA 150; CR D22

0.1 mi · 15 sec · 1st Street East

10

Turn right onto 5th Avenue Southeast

42 ft · 1 sec · 5th Avenue Southeast

11

Arrive at destination

5th Avenue Southeast

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 60.5 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.3 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 27 miles or 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 60.5 miles or 1h 10m 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 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Independence, 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 121.1 miles and 2h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Ames, IA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 87.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 60.5 mi from Ames, IA · 1h 10m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ackley, IA

61 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

Gilbert, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Aplington, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 60.5 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.3 miles.

Arriving in Independence, IA

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 95.1

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Ames, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

Discover Ames

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–4:30 pm

+15152324032

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.93 one way

$37.87 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$20.79	$41.57
premium	$4.89	$23.30	$46.61
diesel	$5.61	$26.74	$53.47

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	36.3	$12.72	$5.81
Efficient EV	30.3	$10.60	$4.84
EV Truck/SUV	48.4	$16.95	$7.75

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Ames, IA

Afternoon in Ames on Friday

Local time

1:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 22 mph 28% chance Live forecast

Destination

Independence, IA

Afternoon in Independence on Friday

Local time

1:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°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

9 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 21m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Independence, IA covers 121.1 miles and takes about 2h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 20, I 35 Business, 13th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 60.5 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 $18.93 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.

The drive from Ames, IA to Independence, IA is easy. At 2h 21m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 35 Business): Navigation decision point; at 31.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 103.6 miles (US 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

The route from Ames, IA to Independence, 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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Return Trip

Independence, IA to Ames, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

121.2 mi 2h 21m

Explore more options from Ames, IA or browse trips ending in Independence, IA.

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Trip from Ames, IA to Independence, IA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Independence, IA

Nearby Places

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

EV Connect Charging Station

Discover Ames

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Ames, IA

Independence, IA

Same local time

9 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 21m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Ames, IA to Independence, IA?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How hard is the drive from Ames, IA to Independence, IA?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Ames, IA to Independence, IA?

How this page is built

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