Origin
Ames, IA
Night in Ames on Wednesday
Local time
11:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Audubon, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 12m
Distance
95.4 mi
154 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 3m
★
6 AM
2h 13m
8 AM
2h 31m
10 AM
2h 19m
12 PM
2h 17m
3 PM
2h 20m
5 PM
2h 30m
8 PM
2h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Audubon, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ames, IA to Audubon, IA covers 95.4 miles and takes about 2h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Grand Avenue, South Grand Avenue, South 4th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.91 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
47.7 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 12m drive with frequent turns across 95.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Grand Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Ames, IA to Audubon, IA is easy. At 2h 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ames, IA to Audubon, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Avenue | — | — |
| South Grand Avenue | — | — |
| South 4th Street | — | — |
| University Boulevard | — | — |
| US 30 west | — | — |
| US 30 | — | — |
| North Main Street | — | — |
| West 3rd Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Grand Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Audubon, IA.
1
Start on 13th Street
118 ft
·
11 sec
·
13th Street
2
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue
3
Continue on South Grand Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
South Grand Avenue
4
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 4th Street
5
Turn left onto University Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
University Boulevard
6
Take the ramp right toward US 30 west: Boone
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 30 west: Boone
7
Merge slight left
62 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
8
Continue on US 30
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
US 30
9
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
North Main Street
10
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 3rd Street
11
Turn left
11 mi
·
15 min
12
Continue on George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
13
Turn left onto Ivy Avenue
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Ivy Avenue
14
Continue on North Market Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Market Street
15
Arrive at your destination
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 47.7 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.7 miles or 1h 6m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Audubon, 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 95.4 miles and 2h 12m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.7 mi from Ames, IA · 1h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 47.7 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Audubon, IA
The final approach into Audubon, 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 Audubon, 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
$14.91 one way
$29.83 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.38 | $32.75 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.36 | $36.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.06 | $42.13 |
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: 33.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.02 | $4.58 |
| Efficient EV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.35 | $3.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.2 | 0 | $13.36 | $6.11 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Destination
Audubon, IA
Night in Audubon on Wednesday
Local time
11:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Jefferson, IA
48 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
21 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 12m 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 Audubon, IA covers 95.4 miles and takes about 2h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Grand Avenue, South Grand Avenue, South 4th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.7 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 $14.91 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 Audubon, IA is easy. At 2h 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ames, IA to Audubon, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Ames, IA to Audubon, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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