Origin
Ames, IA
Afternoon in Ames on Saturday
Local time
2:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Ottumwa, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
117.9 mi
190 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 11m
★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 28m
12 PM
2h 26m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ottumwa, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
The drive from Ames, IA to Ottumwa, IA covers 117.9 miles and takes about 2h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East University Avenue, I 35, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.9 miles on East University Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.43 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.
Midpoint
59 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East University Avenue | 73.9 mi | 1h 25m |
| I 35 | 25.9 mi | 28m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Old US Highway 63 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| I 80 | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| 13th Street | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| South Wapello Street | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Northeast University Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
East University Avenue
— 73.9 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Ottumwa, IA.
1
Start on I 35 Business
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
13th Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
3
Merge onto I 35
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
5
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
2 min
Exit 137A
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
6
Merge onto I 80
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 80
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 141
Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 65
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 79
Toward IA 163: East University Avenue, Pleasant Hill
10
Turn left onto IA 163
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East University Avenue
11
Continue on IA 163
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Northeast University Avenue
12
Continue on IA 163
71 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
East University Avenue
13
Take the exit onto US 63 Business
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
US 63 Business
14
Turn right onto US 63 Business; IA 149
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Old US Highway 63
15
Continue on US 63 Business; IA 149
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Wapello Street
16
Turn left onto West Fourth Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
West Fourth Street
17
Arrive at destination
West Fourth 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 59 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.9 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 26 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59 miles or 1h 11m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ottumwa, 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 117.9 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Ames, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East University Avenue for about 73.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 59 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before East University Avenue if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 36.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
28.4 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
5
28.6 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Davenport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 137A
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
8
32 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 141
Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
6
36.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward IA 163: East University Avenue, Pleasant Hill
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 79
Toward IA 163: East University Avenue, Pleasant...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.43 one way
$36.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.24 | $40.48 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.69 | $45.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.03 | $52.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.38 | $5.66 |
| Efficient EV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.32 | $4.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.2 | 0 | $16.51 | $7.55 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Ottumwa, IA
Afternoon in Ottumwa on Saturday
Local time
2:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Monroe, IA
59 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 20m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
117.9 mi in 2h 20m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.9 mi on East University Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 35.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 117.9 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 2.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ames, IA and Ottumwa, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines and Pleasant Hill.
Council Bluffs
28.4 mi in
|
~34m
|
via I 35
Davenport
28.4 mi in
|
~34m
|
via I 35
Des Moines
32 mi in
|
~39m
Pleasant Hill
36.5 mi in
|
~45m
About the Cities
Starting in Ames, IA
Full guide →Ames is a pleasant college town in Central Iowa, sitting astride the Skunk River roughly 30 miles north of Des Moines. Life in Ames follows the ebb and flow of the academic year at Iowa State University, which is the city's primary draw.
Arriving in Ottumwa, IA
Full guide →Ottumwa is a city in South Central Iowa.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 117.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.9 miles on East University Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Ottumwa, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ottumwa, IA before heading back.
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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