Origin
Ames, IA
Late night in Ames on Saturday
Local time
4:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Dallas Center, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
43.3 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Dallas Center, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Planning a trip from Ames to Dallas Center, Iowa? This straightforward 43.3-mile drive should take you about 1 hour and 4 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with a small portion on US 30, giving you a feel for the Midwest landscape. With an estimated fuel cost of just $7, it's an economical choice for a quick getaway or a practical errand. This route is designed for a single day, so no overnight stays are necessary.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 43.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the majority of this 43.3-mile journey. While only 17% of the route involves highway travel, the bulk of your time will be spent on roads like S Avenue and T Avenue. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 10.1 miles on S Avenue, offering a brief period of steady driving before you navigate more intersections and changes in direction. This profile means you'll be actively engaged with the road, making for a dynamic, albeit short, driving experience.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
S Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 10.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near I 35 Business; US 69 / Grand Avenue.
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 43.3 miles you will encounter 15 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: 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 15 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
5
22.9 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
IA 210 / West North Street
Turn left onto IA 210 / West North Street
Navigation decision point
5
43.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
Walnut Street
Turn left onto Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| S Avenue | 10.1 mi | 14m |
| T Avenue | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| US 30 | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| 334th Road | 5 mi | 7m |
| North Main Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| 240th Street | 2 mi | 2m |
| 230th Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Northwest Granger Drive | 1.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
S Avenue
— 10.1 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Dallas Center, 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
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
US 30
8
Turn left onto 230th Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
230th Street
9
Turn left onto IA 17
10 mi
·
14 min
·
S Avenue
10
Turn right onto IA 210
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
East 1st Street
11
Continue on IA 210
415 ft
·
12 sec
·
East 1st Street
12
Turn left onto IA 210
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
West North Street
13
Continue on IA 210
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
334th Road
14
At end of road, turn left onto IA 210
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
16
Merge onto IA 141
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
17
Turn right onto CR R22
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
T Avenue
18
Turn right onto IA 44
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
240th Street
19
Continue on IA 44
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Sugar Grove Avenue
20
Turn left onto CR R16
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
14th Street
21
Turn left onto Walnut Street
32 ft
·
1 sec
·
Walnut Street
22
Arrive at destination
Walnut Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.6 mi from Ames, IA · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.6 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dallas Center, IA
The final approach into Dallas Center, 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
$6.77 one way
$13.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.43 | $14.87 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.33 | $16.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.56 | $19.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.55 | $2.08 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.06 | $2.77 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Dallas Center, IA
Late night in Dallas Center on Saturday
Local time
4:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Madrid, IA
22 mi in
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
19 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
1h 4m 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 Dallas Center, IA covers 43.3 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are S Avenue, T Avenue, US 30. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.6 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 $6.77 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.3 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 Dallas Center, 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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