The drive from Ames, IA to Red Oak, IA covers 152.2 miles and takes about 3h 10m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, I 35, 110 Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62.3 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.79 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
76.1 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 152.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 10m highway drive covering 152.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and I 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 62.3 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 62.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 35. You will hit about 10 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 Effort5/10
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 152.2 miles you will encounter 10 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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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.
8
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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
7
42.7 mi into trip|~50m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
5
105 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
5
152.2 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|East Reed Street
Turn right onto East Reed Street
Navigation decision point
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 Red Oak, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport and Audubon.
Council Bluffs
28.4 mi in|~34m|via I 35
Davenport
28.4 mi in|~34m|via I 35
Audubon
105 mi in|~1h 57m|via US 6
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
62.3 mi
1h 7m
I 35
40 mi
44m
110 Street
14 mi
20m
550th Street
10 mi
14m
White Pole Road
9 mi
13m
650th Street
6.5 mi
9m
East 7th Street
3.5 mi
6m
13th Street
2.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 62.3 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Red Oak, 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
14 mi·16 min·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, DavenportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·48 sec·US 6
Toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
7
Turn left onto US 6; US 71
6.5 mi·9 min·650th Street
8
Turn right onto US 6; US 71
3.5 mi·6 min·East 7th Street
9
Continue on US 6; IA 83
0.1 mi·20 sec·White Pole Road
10
Continue on US 6
0.6 mi·1 min·West 7th Street
11
Continue on US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·Southwest 7th Street
12
Continue on US 6
8.9 mi·13 min·White Pole Road
13
Turn left onto IA 48
5.3 mi·7 min·550th Street
14
Continue on IA 48
1.0 mi·1 min·Adair Street
15
Continue on IA 48
4.8 mi·7 min·550th Street
16
Continue on IA 48
0.9 mi·1 min·M Avenue
17
Continue on IA 48
14 mi·20 min·110 Street
18
Turn left onto West Hammond Street
0.4 mi·1 min·West Hammond Street
19
Turn right onto North 7th Street
300 ft·15 sec·North 7th Street
20
Turn right onto East Reed Street
329 ft·14 sec·East Reed Street
21
Arrive at destination
East Reed Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.1 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.3 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.1 miles or 1h 26m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Red Oak, 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 152.2 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 62.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 76.1 mi from Ames, IA
· 1h 26m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.79 one way
$47.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.13
$52.25
premium
$4.89
$29.29
$58.58
diesel
$5.61
$33.60
$67.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.7
0
$15.98
$7.31
Efficient EV
38.1
0
$13.32
$6.09
EV Truck/SUV
60.9
0
$21.31
$9.74
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ames, IA
Morning
in Ames on Saturday
Local time
8:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Red Oak, IA
Morning
in Red Oak on Saturday
Local time
8:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Stuart, IA
76 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
6 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
3h 10m 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 Red Oak, IA covers 152.2 miles and takes about 3h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 35, 110 Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76.1 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 $23.79 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 152.2 miles you will encounter 10 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: 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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Ames, IA and Red Oak, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport and Audubon.
