Origin
Corydon, IA
Morning in Corydon on Saturday
Local time
8:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Corydon, IA to Ames, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 24m
Distance
105.2 mi
169 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 15m
★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 44m
10 AM
2h 31m
12 PM
2h 29m
3 PM
2h 32m
5 PM
2h 43m
8 PM
2h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Corydon, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Corydon, IA to Ames, IA covers 105.2 miles and takes about 2h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, State Highway 14, State Highway 5 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25.7 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.45 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
52.6 miles from Corydon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 105.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 24m highway drive covering 105.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and State Highway 14. The longest continuous stretch is about 25.7 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 33 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 State Highway 14. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 2 / West Jefferson Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 105.2 miles you will encounter 17 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 (IA 2 / West Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IA 14 / South Lafayette Street): Navigation decision point; at 34.6 miles (CR S45 / B Street Northwest): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 2 / West Jefferson Street
Turn right onto IA 2 / West Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 14 / South Lafayette Street
Turn left onto IA 14 / South Lafayette Street
Navigation decision point
6
34.6 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
CR S45 / B Street Northwest
At end of road, turn left onto CR S45 / B Street Northwest
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
75.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m 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
76.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 25.7 mi | 28m |
| State Highway 14 | 23 mi | 34m |
| State Highway 5 | 18.2 mi | 20m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| County Road S45 | 9.2 mi | 16m |
| 260th Avenue | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| East 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| County Highway S45 | 1.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 25.7 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Corydon, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on South Franklin Street
86 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Franklin Street
2
Turn right onto IA 2
460 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Jefferson Street
3
Turn left onto IA 14
460 ft
·
13 sec
·
South Lafayette Street
4
Turn left onto IA 14
242 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Jackson Street
5
Turn right onto IA 14
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Street
6
Continue on IA 14
16 mi
·
24 min
·
State Highway 14
7
Continue on IA 14
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Main Street
8
Turn straight onto IA 14; US 34 Business
492 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Highway 14
9
Continue on IA 14; US 34 Business
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Woodlawn Avenue
10
At end of road, turn left onto IA 14; US 34 Business
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South 7th Street
11
Continue on IA 14
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 14
12
Turn left onto CR S45
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
260th Avenue
13
Continue on CR S45
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
50th Place
14
Continue on CR S45
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway S45
15
Turn right onto CR G76; CR S45
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
County Highway G76
16
Turn left onto CR S45
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
17
Continue on CR S45
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Northeast Main Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto CR S45
367 ft
·
9 sec
·
B Street Northwest
19
Turn right onto CR S45
461 ft
·
9 sec
·
1st Street Northwest
20
Continue on CR S45
9.2 mi
·
16 min
·
County Road S45
21
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
this road
22
Continue on IA 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 5
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
24
Merge onto US 65
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
25
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
26
Merge onto I 80
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80
27
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
29
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 North: Minneapolis
30
Merge onto I 35
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 35
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
32
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
33
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
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 52.6 miles from Corydon, IA, or about 1h 20m 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 23 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.6 miles or 1h 20m 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
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 Corydon, 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 Corydon, IA
This is one driving day of about 105.2 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Corydon, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 52.6 mi from Corydon, IA · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.6 miles from Corydon, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$16.45 one way
$32.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.06 | $36.12 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.24 | $40.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.23 | $46.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.6 | 0 | $11.05 | $5.05 |
| Efficient EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.21 | $4.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.1 | 0 | $14.73 | $6.73 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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
Morning in Ames on Saturday
Local time
8:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Altoona, IA
53 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
19 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
2h 24m 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 Corydon, IA to Ames, IA covers 105.2 miles and takes about 2h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, State Highway 14, State Highway 5. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.6 miles from Corydon, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.45 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 105.2 miles you will encounter 17 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 (IA 2 / West Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IA 14 / South Lafayette Street): Navigation decision point; at 34.6 miles (CR S45 / B Street Northwest): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
The route from Corydon, IA to Ames, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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