Origin
Bellevue, IA
Afternoon in Bellevue on Sunday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bellevue, IA to Ames, IA
Drive Time
3h 56m
Distance
194.7 mi
313 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
Photo: Anton Belitskiy
Trip Overview
The drive from Bellevue, IA to Ames, IA covers 194.7 miles and takes about 3h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Lincoln Highway, US 151, 73rd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.7 miles on Lincoln Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.57 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
97.3 miles from Bellevue, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Bellevue, IA to Ames, IA covers 194.7 miles and takes about 3h 56m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lincoln Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 65.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 23.3 miles in near US 151.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 56m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 23.3 miles (US 151): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 81.5 miles (IA 100): Navigation decision point; at 96.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
23.3 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
US 151
Take the exit onto US 151
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
81.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
|
IA 100
Turn right onto IA 100
Navigation decision point
5
96.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshall...
4
189.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 47m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
4
191.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 50m in
Take the exit toward USDA Veterinary Labs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Bellevue, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marshalltown along the way.
Marshalltown
96.7 mi in
|
~1h 59m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Highway | 65.7 mi | 1h 16m |
| US 151 | 58.1 mi | 1h 7m |
| 73rd Street | 24.4 mi | 28m |
| Great River Road | 16.7 mi | 22m |
| IA 100 | 15.2 mi | 18m |
| US 61 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| East 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| South Riverview Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 65.7 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellevue, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on US 52
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
South Riverview Street
2
Continue on US 52
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Great River Road
3
Continue on US 52
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Main Street
4
Continue on US 52
9.1 mi
·
12 min
·
Great River Road
5
Continue on US 52
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bellevue Road
6
Turn left onto US 61; US 151; US 52
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
US 61; US 151; US 52
7
Take the exit onto US 151
57 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
US 151
8
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 151; IA 13
9
Turn right onto IA 100
15 mi
·
18 min
·
IA 100
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
11
Merge onto US 30; US 218
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Avenue Southwest
12
Continue on US 30; US 218
24 mi
·
28 min
·
73rd Street
13
Continue on US 30
66 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
Lincoln Highway
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
15
Merge onto I 35
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
17
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
18
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
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 97.3 miles from Bellevue, IA, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.7 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.3 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ames, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bellevue, 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 Bellevue, IA
This is one driving day of about 194.7 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bellevue, 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 Lincoln Highway for about 65.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 97.3 mi from Bellevue, IA · 2h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 97.3 miles from Bellevue, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Lincoln Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.7 miles.
Arriving in Ames, IA
The final approach into Ames, 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 Ames, 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
$29.57 one way
$59.15 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $32.60 | $65.20 |
| premium | $4.80 | $36.76 | $73.51 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $43.26 | $86.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.4 | 0 | $20.44 | $9.35 |
| Efficient EV | 48.7 | 0 | $17.04 | $7.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.9 | 0 | $27.26 | $12.46 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Ames, IA
Afternoon in Ames on Sunday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
43°F
Marion, IA
97 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 56m 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 Bellevue, IA to Ames, IA covers 194.7 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lincoln Highway, US 151, 73rd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 97.3 miles from Bellevue, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.57 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 is a straightforward 3h 56m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 23.3 miles (US 151): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 81.5 miles (IA 100): Navigation decision point; at 96.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Bellevue, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marshalltown along the way.
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