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Trip from Durant, IA to Ames, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 35m

Distance

161.2 mi

259 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 25m ★
6 AM
2h 36m
8 AM
2h 57m
10 AM
2h 43m
12 PM
2h 41m
3 PM
2h 44m
5 PM
2h 56m
8 PM
2h 30m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Durant, IA, IA

Durant, IA

SHOX ART

city in Story County, Iowa, United States

Ames, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Durant, IA to Ames, IA covers 161.2 miles and takes about 2h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 6th Avenue, 5th Street, Yankee Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.20 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

80.6 miles from Durant, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 35m. Total distance: 161.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 35m drive with frequent turns across 161.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
6th Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Durant, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 2h 35m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Durant, IA to Ames, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
6th Avenue
5th Street
Yankee Avenue
I 380
Avenue of the Saints
US 30 West
Lincoln Highway
I 35 North

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: 6th Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Durant, IA and Ames, IA.

1

Start on 4th Street

351 ft · 18 sec · 4th Street
2

Turn right onto 6th Avenue

390 ft · 23 sec · 6th Avenue
3

Turn left onto 5th Street

0.4 mi · 43 sec · 5th Street
4

Turn right onto Yankee Avenue

2.4 mi · 4 min · Yankee Avenue
5

Take the ramp sharp left

0.3 mi · 42 sec
6

Merge slight left

37 mi · 40 min
7

Take the exit slight right toward I 380, US 218, IA 27

0.4 mi · 45 sec · I 380, US 218, IA 27
8

Keep slight right to continue on I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
9

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

16 mi · 17 min · Avenue of the Saints
10

Take the exit slight right toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama

34 mi · 39 min · US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama
11

Continue on Lincoln Highway

66 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Lincoln Highway
12

Take the exit slight right toward I 35 North: Minneapolis

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 35 North: Minneapolis
13

Merge slight left

1.2 mi · 1 min
14

Take the exit slight right toward USDA Veterinary Labs

0.3 mi · 45 sec · USDA Veterinary Labs
15

Turn left onto East 13th Street

2.7 mi · 5 min · East 13th Street
16

Arrive at your destination

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.6 miles from Durant, IA, or about 1h 17m into the drive.

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 35 miles or 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 80.6 miles or 1h 17m 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 7m

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 Durant, 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 Durant, IA

This is one driving day of about 161.2 miles and 2h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Durant, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 80.6 mi from Durant, IA · 1h 17m into the drive

Downtown Vinton, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Vinton, IA

81 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.

Popular next leg

Vinton, IA to Ames, IA

99.2 mi · 2h 6m

Pacing Suggestions

Iowa City, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Vinton, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80.6 miles from Durant, 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

$25.20 one way

$50.40 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 56 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $27.67 $55.34
premium $4.89 $31.02 $62.04
diesel $5.61 $35.59 $71.18

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48.4 0 $16.93 $7.74
Efficient EV 40.3 0 $14.10 $6.45
EV Truck/SUV 64.5 0 $22.57 $10.32

Gas CO2

56 kg

EV CO2

19 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

Durant, IA

Morning in Durant on Friday

Local time

8:55 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ames, IA

Morning in Ames on Friday

Local time

8:55 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Vinton, IA

81 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

20 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 35m 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 Durant, IA to Ames, IA covers 161.2 miles and takes about 2h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are 6th Avenue, 5th Street, Yankee Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 80.6 miles from Durant, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.20 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The drive from Durant, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 2h 35m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Durant, IA to Ames, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Durant, 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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