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 Jefferson, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
58m
Distance
43 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Jefferson, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ames, IA to Jefferson, IA covers 43 miles and takes about 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 30, North Elm Street, University Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.5 miles on US 30. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.72 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
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
21.5 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 58m highway drive covering 43 miles, with most of the trip on US 30 and North Elm Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 38.5 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 10 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 38.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 30 and North Elm Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near I 35 Business; US 69 / Grand Avenue.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Ames, IA to Jefferson, IA is easy. At 58m with 90% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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
4
41.7 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
IA 4 / North Elm Street
Turn left onto IA 4 / North Elm Street
Navigation decision point
4
43 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
West Lincolnway Street
Turn right onto West Lincolnway Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 30 | 38.5 mi | 49m |
| North Elm Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| University Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Grand Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South 4th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Grand Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 13th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Lincolnway Street | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 30
— 38.5 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Jefferson, 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
39 mi
·
49 min
·
US 30
8
Turn left onto IA 4
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Elm Street
9
Turn right onto West Lincolnway Street
22 ft
·
0 sec
·
West Lincolnway Street
10
Arrive at destination
West Lincolnway 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 21.5 miles from Ames, IA, or about 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.5 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 43 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 21.5 miles or 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Ames, IA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ames, IA
This is one driving day of about 43 miles and 58m.
At 43 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on US 30 for about 38.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.5 mi from Ames, IA · 30m 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
First break window
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.5 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Jefferson, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Jefferson, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.72 one way
$13.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.38 | $14.76 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.27 | $16.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.49 | $18.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15 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 | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.06 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.76 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
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
Jefferson, IA
Night in Jefferson on Wednesday
Local time
11:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Patchy Fog
WNW 3 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:00PM CDT until April 16 at 7:30AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:00PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
50°F
Boone, 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
15 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
58m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Jefferson, IA covers 43 miles and takes about 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 30, North Elm Street, University Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.5 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 $6.72 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 Jefferson, IA is easy. At 58m with 90% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 Jefferson, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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