Origin
Eagle Grove, IA
Morning in Eagle Grove on Saturday
Local time
6:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eagle Grove, 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
1h 20m
Distance
64 mi
103 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eagle Grove, IA
Tom Fisk
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Eagle Grove, IA to Ames, IA is 64 miles and takes about 1h 20m via I 35 and US 20, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, short drive primarily within the Midwest region, connecting two points within Iowa. Expect a functional journey focused on efficient travel, with a high percentage of time spent on major highways. It's a good option for a quick relocation or a day trip if you're looking to cover ground without a significant time commitment.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 64 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 81% of the route utilizing major roads like I 35 and US 20. You'll experience stretches of efficient, high-speed travel, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 28.1 miles on I 35. The character of the drive is largely dictated by these primary arteries, offering a consistent and predictable experience. While Stagecoach Road makes up a portion of the journey, the bulk of your time will be on well-maintained highways designed for direct travel between destinations.
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 28.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Commercial Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 20m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Commercial Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.5 miles (CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Commercial Avenue
Turn left onto South Commercial Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
13.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street
Navigation decision point
5
15.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
4
32.4 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
4
61.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
I 35 Business
Take the exit onto I 35 Business toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 28.1 mi | 30m |
| US 20 | 16.4 mi | 18m |
| Stagecoach Road | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| State Highway 17 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| East 13th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| South Commercial Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 220th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I 35 Business | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 28.1 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eagle Grove, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on West Broadway Street
30 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto South Commercial Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Commercial Avenue
3
Continue on IA 17
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 17
4
Continue on IA 17
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Stagecoach Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto CR D20; IA 17; CR D20
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
220th Street
6
Turn right onto IA 17
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Stagecoach Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward US 20 East
8
Merge onto US 20
16 mi
·
18 min
·
US 20
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
10
Merge onto I 35
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 35
11
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 35 Business
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
12
Turn right onto I 35 Business
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East 13th Street
13
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32 mi from Eagle Grove, IA · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32 miles from Eagle Grove, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.01 one way
$20.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.99 | $21.97 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.32 | $24.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.13 | $28.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.72 | $3.07 |
| Efficient EV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.96 | $4.10 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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
6:33 AM
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
1 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
1h 20m 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 Eagle Grove, IA to Ames, IA covers 64 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 20, Stagecoach Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32 miles from Eagle Grove, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.01 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 is a straightforward 1h 20m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Commercial Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.5 miles (CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Eagle Grove, 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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