The drive from Buffalo, IA to Ames, IA covers 184.8 miles and takes about 3h 36m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Lincoln Highway, I 280, US 218 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 $28.89 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
92.4 miles from Buffalo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 184.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Buffalo, IA to Ames, IA covers 184.8 miles and takes about 3h 36m, 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 16 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. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jefferson Street.
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 184.8 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: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IA 22 / West Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 63.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Jefferson Street
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 22 / West Front Street
Turn left onto IA 22 / West Front Street
Navigation decision point
5
63.7 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
6
64 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar...
5
80.6 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|US 218
Take the exit onto US 218 toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North:...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Buffalo, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo along the way.
Waterloo
64 mi in|~1h 13m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
65.7 mi
1h 16m
I 280
58 mi
1h 4m
US 218
33.7 mi
39m
Avenue of the Saints
16 mi
17m
West Front Street
2.9 mi
4m
East 13th Street
2.7 mi
5m
Rockingham Road
2.2 mi
3m
I 35
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 65.7 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Street
35 ft·5 sec·2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
375 ft·16 sec·Jefferson Street
3
Turn left onto IA 22
2.9 mi·4 min·West Front Street
4
Continue on IA 22
2.2 mi·3 min·Rockingham Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
6
Merge onto I 280
58 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 280
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
9
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
16 mi·17 min·Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit onto US 218
34 mi·39 min·US 218
Toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama
11
Continue on US 30
66 mi·1 hr 16 min·Lincoln Highway
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
13
Merge onto I 35
1.2 mi·1 min·I 35
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
15
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi·5 min·East 13th Street
16
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 92.4 miles from Buffalo, IA, or about 1h 46m 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 41 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.4 miles or 1h 46m 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 55m
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 Buffalo, 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 Buffalo, IA
This is one driving day of about 184.8 miles and 3h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Buffalo, 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 92.4 mi from Buffalo, IA
· 1h 46m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.89 one way
$57.78 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.72
$63.44
premium
$4.89
$35.56
$71.13
diesel
$5.61
$40.80
$81.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.4
0
$19.40
$8.87
Efficient EV
46.2
0
$16.17
$7.39
EV Truck/SUV
73.9
0
$25.87
$11.83
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Buffalo, IA
Late night
in Buffalo on Saturday
Local time
4:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ames, IA
Late night
in Ames on Saturday
Local time
4:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
18 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 36m 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 Buffalo, IA to Ames, IA covers 184.8 miles and takes about 3h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lincoln Highway, I 280, US 218. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 92.4 miles from Buffalo, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.89 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 184.8 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: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IA 22 / West Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 63.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Buffalo, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo along the way.
