Origin
Carlisle, IA
Afternoon in Carlisle on Wednesday
Local time
4:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carlisle, IA to Ames, IA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
55m
Distance
45 mi
72 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carlisle, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 45-mile drive from Carlisle, IA to Ames, IA takes about 55 minutes, making it an easy day trip. You'll spend about 63% of your time on highways, primarily utilizing I-35, also known as the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. With a fuel cost estimated at $7, this short journey is budget-friendly. The route stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout. Given its brevity, you won't need an overnight stop, and you can easily fit this into a busy schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
22.5 miles from Carlisle, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this drive, with 63% of your travel on interstate roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 25.7 miles on I-35, providing a good opportunity to settle in. While primarily interstate, the route does transition to surface streets like East 13th Street as you approach your destination. This means you'll experience a mix of faster highway speeds and more typical in-town driving conditions toward the end.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near IA 5.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.3 miles (IA 5): Navigation decision point; at 12.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 14.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IA 5
Turn right onto IA 5
Navigation decision point
5
12.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
7
14.9 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
6
16.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35 toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
4
42 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward USDA Veterinary Labs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
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 Carlisle, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Usda Veterinary Labs along the way.
Usda Veterinary Labs
42 mi in
|
~49m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 25.7 mi | 28m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| East 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| IA 5 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| I 80 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North 5th Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| 13th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 25.7 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carlisle, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on North 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North 5th Street
2
Turn right onto IA 5
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 5
3
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
4
Merge onto US 65
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
5
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
6
Merge onto I 80
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
9
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 North: Minneapolis
10
Merge onto I 35
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 35
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
12
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
13
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Trip Plan
This short 45-mile trip is flexible, so consider leaving mid-morning to avoid rush hour in either Carlisle or Ames. Since the drive is under an hour, you won't need many stops, but there are services along I-35 if needed. Keep an eye out for the transition from the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway to local roads as you enter Ames. With a fuel cost around $7, it's a minimal expense to factor in.
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 22.5 miles from Carlisle, IA, or about 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.7 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 10 miles or 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.5 miles or 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ames, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Carlisle, IA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Carlisle, IA
This is one driving day of about 45 miles and 55m.
At 45 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 25.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.5 mi from Carlisle, IA · 28m 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 22.5 miles from Carlisle, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ames, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Ames, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.04 one way
$14.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.72 | $15.45 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.66 | $17.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.94 | $19.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 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 | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.94 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
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
Ames, IA
Afternoon in Ames on Wednesday
Local time
4:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
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
55m 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 Carlisle, IA to Ames, IA covers 45 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway, East 13th 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 22.5 miles from Carlisle, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.04 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.3 miles (IA 5): Navigation decision point; at 12.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 14.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Carlisle, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Usda Veterinary Labs along the way.
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