Origin
Ames, IA
Morning in Ames on Monday
Local time
9:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Mapleton, IA
Drive Time
2h 55m
Distance
125.5 mi
202 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 45m
★
6 AM
2h 56m
8 AM
3h 18m
10 AM
3h 4m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 17m
8 PM
2h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Anton Belitskiy
Trip Overview
The drive from Ames, IA to Mapleton, IA covers 125.5 miles and takes about 2h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 30, George P. Soumas Memorial Highway, M Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 92.1 miles on US 30. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.06 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
62.8 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 55m highway drive covering 125.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 30 and George P. Soumas Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 92.1 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 20 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 92.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 30 and George P. Soumas Memorial Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near I 35 Business; US 69 / Grand Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 55m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (I 35 Business; US 69 / Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (South 4th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 35 Business; US 69 / Grand Avenue
Turn left onto I 35 Business; US 69 / Grand Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South 4th Street
Turn right onto South 4th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward US 30 west: Boone
Navigation decision point
Toward US 30 west: Boone
6
95.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 59 North, IA 141 West: Ida Grove
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 59 North, IA 141 West: Ida Grove
4
125.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 55m in
|
Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 30 | 92.1 mi | 2h 6m |
| George P. Soumas Memorial Highway | 23 mi | 31m |
| M Avenue | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| 210th Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South 4th Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| University Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Grand Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East 1st Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 30
— 92.1 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Mapleton, IA.
1
Start on I 35 Business
117 ft
·
11 sec
·
13th Street
2
Turn left onto I 35 Business; US 69
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue
3
Continue on South Grand Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
South Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 4th Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto University Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
University Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward US 30 west: Boone
7
Merge onto US 30
62 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
US 30
8
Continue on US 30
30 mi
·
44 min
·
US 30
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
354 ft
·
13 sec
Toward US 59 North, IA 141 West: Ida Grove
10
Turn straight onto US 59; IA 141
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
260th Street
11
Continue on US 59; IA 141
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
12
Turn left onto IA 141
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
M Avenue
13
Turn straight onto IA 141
10 mi
·
14 min
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
14
Continue on IA 141
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
210th Street
15
Continue on East 1st Street
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
East 1st Street
16
Turn straight onto IA 141
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
17
Continue on IA 141
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
18
Continue on IA 141
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South 4th Street
19
Turn right onto Main Street
46 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
Main 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.8 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.1 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 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.8 miles or 1h 25m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mapleton, 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 125.5 miles and 2h 55m.
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.
The longest stretch is on US 30 for about 92.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.8 mi from Ames, IA · 1h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 62.8 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 92.1 miles.
Arriving in Mapleton, IA
The final approach into Mapleton, 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 Mapleton, 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
$19.06 one way
$38.12 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $21.01 | $42.03 |
| premium | $4.80 | $23.69 | $47.38 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $27.88 | $55.76 |
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: 43.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.7 | 0 | $13.18 | $6.02 |
| Efficient EV | 31.4 | 0 | $10.98 | $5.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.2 | 0 | $17.57 | $8.03 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Mapleton, IA
Morning in Mapleton on Monday
Local time
9:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
47°F
Denison, IA
63 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
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
2h 55m 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 Mapleton, IA covers 125.5 miles and takes about 2h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 30, George P. Soumas Memorial Highway, M 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 62.8 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 $19.06 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 55m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (I 35 Business; US 69 / Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (South 4th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Ames, IA to Mapleton, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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