Origin
Ames, IA
Morning in Ames on Saturday
Local time
9:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Norwalk, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
45.7 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Norwalk, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ames, IA to Norwalk, IA covers 45.7 miles and takes about 1h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35 South, I 235 West, John MacVicar Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.14 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 45.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 3m drive with frequent turns across 45.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 South 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ames, IA to Norwalk, IA is easy. At 1h 3m 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 Norwalk, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 South | — | — |
| I 235 West | — | — |
| John MacVicar Freeway | — | — |
| East 6th Street | — | — |
| East Village | — | — |
| Southeast 6th Street | — | — |
| Scott Avenue | — | — |
| Southeast 1st Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 35 South
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Norwalk, IA.
1
Start on 13th Street
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
13th Street
2
Take the ramp right toward I 35 South: Des Moines
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 35 South: Des Moines
3
Merge slight left
26 mi
·
28 min
4
Keep slight left to continue on I 235 West: Des Moines
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 235 West: Des Moines
5
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
6
Take the exit slight right toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
7
Keep slight right to continue on East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
8
Turn left onto East 6th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
9
Continue on Southeast 6th Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Southeast 6th Street
10
Turn right onto Scott Avenue
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Scott Avenue
11
Continue on Southeast 1st Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast 1st Street
12
Continue on Indianola Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Indianola Road
13
Turn left onto Bancroft Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Bancroft Street
14
Turn right onto Southwest 9th Street
5.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Southwest 9th Street
15
Continue on County Road R63
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road R63
16
Turn right onto County Road G14
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road G14
17
Continue on North Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Avenue
18
Turn right onto Main Street
82 ft
·
4 sec
·
Main Street
19
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.9 mi from Ames, IA · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 22.9 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Norwalk, IA
The final approach into Norwalk, 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
$7.14 one way
$14.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.84 | $15.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.79 | $17.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.09 | $20.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Norwalk, IA
Morning in Norwalk on Saturday
Local time
9:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 3m 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 Norwalk, IA covers 45.7 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35 South, I 235 West, John MacVicar Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.9 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 $7.14 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 Norwalk, IA is easy. At 1h 3m 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 Norwalk, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Ames, IA to Norwalk, 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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