Trip from Ames, IA to Mapleton, IA

Drive Time

2h 55m

Distance

125.5 mi

202 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

2h 45m ★

6 AM

2h 56m

8 AM

3h 18m

10 AM

3h 4m

12 PM

3h 2m

3 PM

3h 5m

5 PM

3h 17m

8 PM

2h 49m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Ames, IA

Anton Belitskiy

Trip Overview

The drive from Ames, IA to Mapleton, IA covers 125.5 miles and takes about 2h 55m 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 $19.06 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

62.8 miles from Ames, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 55m drive with frequent turns across 125.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 20 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 Mapleton, IA is easy. At 2h 55m 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 Mapleton, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Grand Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
South Grand Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
South 4th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
University Boulevard	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 30 west	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 30	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 59 North	Unavailable	Refreshing
260th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Grand Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Mapleton, IA.

Start on 13th Street

118 ft · 11 sec · 13th Street

Turn left onto Grand Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · Grand Avenue

Continue on South Grand Avenue

0.3 mi · 37 sec · South Grand Avenue

Turn right onto South 4th Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · South 4th Street

Turn left onto University Boulevard

1.1 mi · 2 min · University Boulevard

Take the ramp right toward US 30 west: Boone

0.3 mi · 42 sec · US 30 west: Boone

Merge slight left

62 mi · 1 hr 21 min

Continue on US 30

30 mi · 44 min · US 30

Keep slight right to continue on US 59 North, IA 141 West: Ida Grove

354 ft · 13 sec · US 59 North, IA 141 West: Ida Grove

Turn straight onto 260th Street

0.2 mi · 22 sec · 260th Street

Continue on George P. Soumas Memorial Highway

2.3 mi · 3 min · George P. Soumas Memorial Highway

Turn left onto M Avenue

4.5 mi · 6 min · M Avenue

Turn straight onto George P. Soumas Memorial Highway

10 mi · 14 min · George P. Soumas Memorial Highway

Continue on 210th Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · 210th Street

Continue on East 1st Street

0.4 mi · 49 sec · East 1st Street

Turn straight onto George P. Soumas Memorial Highway

4.9 mi · 6 min · George P. Soumas Memorial Highway

Continue on George P. Soumas Memorial Highway

5.2 mi · 7 min · George P. Soumas Memorial Highway

Continue on South 4th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · South 4th Street

Turn right onto Main Street

46 ft · 2 sec · Main Street

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 62.8 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 27m 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 80 miles or 1h 52m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 62.8 miles or 1h 27m 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 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mapleton, 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 125.5 miles and 2h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 62.8 mi from Ames, IA · 1h 27m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Denison, IA

63 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

Denison, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Denison, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 62.8 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Mapleton, IA

The final approach into Mapleton, 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 Mapleton, 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

$19.06 one way

$38.12 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 44 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$21.01	$42.03
premium	$4.80	$23.69	$47.38
diesel	$5.64	$27.88	$55.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 43.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	37.7	$13.18	$6.02
Efficient EV	31.4	$10.98	$5.02
EV Truck/SUV	50.2	$17.57	$8.03

Gas CO2

44 kg

EV CO2

15 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Ames, IA

Morning in Ames on Monday

Local time

8:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mapleton, IA

Morning in Mapleton on Monday

Local time

8:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

47°F

Denison, IA

63 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

4 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

2h 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 Mapleton, IA covers 125.5 miles and takes about 2h 55m 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 62.8 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 $19.06 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The drive from Ames, IA to Mapleton, IA is easy. At 2h 55m 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 Mapleton, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Ames, IA to Mapleton, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.