Origin
Ames, IA
Afternoon in Ames on Saturday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Monticello, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 52m
Distance
142.4 mi
229 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 41m
★
6 AM
2h 52m
8 AM
3h 14m
10 AM
3h 0m
12 PM
2h 58m
3 PM
3h 1m
5 PM
3h 13m
8 PM
2h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Monticello, IA
Serena Koi
Trip Overview
The drive from Ames, IA to Monticello, IA covers 142.4 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 30, Marion Airport Road, IA 100 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 92.6 miles on US 30. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.26 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
71.2 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 30 | 92.6 mi | 1h 47m |
| Marion Airport Road | 24.1 mi | 27m |
| IA 100 | 9.4 mi | 11m |
| Collins Road Northeast | 5.9 mi | 7m |
| 13th Street | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| South Main Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| I 35 | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| US 151 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 30
— 92.6 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Monticello, 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
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
7
Continue on IA 100
9.4 mi
·
11 min
·
IA 100
8
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Collins Road Northeast
9
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 151; IA 13
10
Turn right onto US 151
24 mi
·
27 min
·
Marion Airport Road
11
Continue on US 151
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
200th Avenue
12
Take the exit onto US 151 Business
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
US 151 Business
13
Turn left onto US 151 Business
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Amber Road
14
Continue on US 151 Business
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
15
Turn left onto IA 38
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
East 1st Street
16
Turn right onto North Maple Street
73 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Maple Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Maple 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 71.2 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.6 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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.2 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monticello, 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 142.4 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 92.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 71.2 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 92.6 miles.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 142.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
5
97.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m in
Take the exit toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
4
107.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m in
|
IA 100 / Collins Road Northeast
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100 / Collins Road Northeast
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
142.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
|
North Maple Street
Turn right onto North Maple Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.26 one way
$44.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.44 | $48.89 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.40 | $54.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.44 | $62.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.95 | $6.84 |
| Efficient EV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.46 | $5.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57 | 0 | $19.94 | $9.11 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Monticello, IA
Afternoon in Monticello on Saturday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
71 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
23 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 52m 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?
142.4 mi in 2h 52m, mostly highway — 92.6 mi of that is on US 30.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.6 mi on US 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 30 and Marion Airport Road. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 142.4 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 97.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ames, IA to Monticello, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marion along the way.
Marion
97.2 mi in
|
~1h 55m
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 2h 52m. Total distance: 142.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 92.6 miles on US 30. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 97.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Monticello, IA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Monticello, IA
More trips to Monticello, IA
Explore more options from Ames, IA or browse trips ending in Monticello, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.