Origin
Ames, IA
Evening in Ames on Thursday
Local time
8:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Orange, IA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 55m
Distance
97.2 mi
156 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 47m
★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Orange, IA
Laura Lumimaa
Trip Overview
The drive from Ames, IA to Orange, IA covers 97.2 miles and takes about 1h 55m 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 62.1 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.20 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
48.6 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 97.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 55m highway drive covering 97.2 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and I 35 Business. The longest continuous stretch is about 62.1 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 9 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 62.1 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
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ames, IA to Orange, IA is easy. At 1h 55m with 93% 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 94 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese 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
94 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward Ansborough Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Ansborough Avenue
4
96 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
West Orange Road
Turn left onto West Orange Road
Navigation decision point
4
97 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m in
|
Kimball Avenue
Turn right onto Kimball Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 62.1 mi | 1h 11m |
| I 35 Business | 28.6 mi | 31m |
| 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Ansborough Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| West Orange Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Kimball Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 62.1 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Orange, 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
62 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
US 20
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward Ansborough Avenue
6
Turn right onto Ansborough Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Ansborough Avenue
7
Turn left onto West Orange Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Orange Road
8
Turn right onto Kimball Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Kimball Avenue
9
Arrive at destination
Kimball Avenue
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 48.6 miles from Ames, IA, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.1 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.6 miles or 57m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orange, 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 97.2 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 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 62.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.6 mi from Ames, IA · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.6 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 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.1 miles.
Arriving in Orange, IA
The final approach into Orange, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.20 one way
$30.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.68 | $33.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.71 | $37.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.46 | $42.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.21 | $4.67 |
| Efficient EV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.50 | $3.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.9 | 0 | $13.61 | $6.22 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Orange, IA
Evening in Orange on Thursday
Local time
8:14 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 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 Orange, IA covers 97.2 miles and takes about 1h 55m 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 48.6 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 $15.20 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 Orange, IA is easy. At 1h 55m with 93% 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 94 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Ames, IA to Orange, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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