Trip from Emmetsburg, 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 49m

Distance

133.9 mi

216 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

2h 38m ★

6 AM

2h 49m

8 AM

3h 11m

10 AM

2h 57m

12 PM

2h 55m

3 PM

2h 58m

5 PM

3h 10m

8 PM

2h 43m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Emmetsburg, IA

Christiyana Krüger

city in Story County, Iowa, United States

Ames, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Emmetsburg, IA to Ames, IA covers 133.9 miles and takes about 2h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 20, I 35, 220th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.7 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.93 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

67 miles from Emmetsburg, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 133.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (63%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 49m highway drive covering 133.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and I 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 55.7 miles on US 20.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 55.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Lawler Street.

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 2h 49m drive. You will face about 10 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 (Lawler Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 18; IA 4 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IA 4 / Broadway Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Lawler Street

Turn right onto Lawler Street

Navigation decision point

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 18; IA 4 / Main Street

Turn left onto US 18; IA 4 / Main Street

Navigation decision point

0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | IA 4 / Broadway Street

Turn right onto IA 4 / Broadway Street

Navigation decision point

44 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in | IA 4 / Marshall Avenue

Keep slight left at fork onto IA 4 / Marshall Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

46.2 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in

Take the ramp toward US 20 East

Navigation decision point

Toward US 20 East

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 20	55.7 mi	1h 4m
I 35	28.1 mi	30m
220th Avenue	22.6 mi	30m
460th Avenue	13 mi	17m
Marengo Avenue	4.8 mi	6m
East 13th Street	2.4 mi	4m
Marshall Avenue	2.3 mi	3m
Northwest 7th Street	1.6 mi	3m

Longest stretch: US 20 — 55.7 mi, about 1h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on 8th Street

87 ft · 8 sec · 8th Street

Turn right onto Lawler Street

332 ft · 14 sec · Lawler Street

Turn left onto US 18; IA 4

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Main Street

Turn right onto IA 4

1.0 mi · 2 min · Broadway Street

Continue on IA 4

13 mi · 17 min · 460th Avenue

Continue on IA 4

11 mi · 15 min · 220th Avenue

Continue on IA 4

1.6 mi · 3 min · Northwest 7th Street

Continue on IA 4

11 mi · 15 min · 220th Avenue

Continue on IA 4; IA 7

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Marengo Avenue

Continue on IA 4; IA 7

0.7 mi · 1 min · North East Street

Continue on IA 4; IA 7

4.3 mi · 5 min · Marengo Avenue

Keep slight left at fork onto IA 4

2.3 mi · 3 min · Marshall Avenue

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 47 sec

Toward US 20 East

Merge onto US 20

56 mi · 1 hr 4 min · US 20

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward I 35 South: Des Moines

Merge onto I 35

28 mi · 30 min · I 35

Take the exit onto I 35 Business

0.4 mi · 52 sec · I 35 Business

Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs

Turn right onto I 35 Business

2.4 mi · 4 min · East 13th Street

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 67 miles from Emmetsburg, IA, or about 1h 30m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.7 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 29 miles or 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 67 miles or 1h 30m 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 20m

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 Emmetsburg, 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 Emmetsburg, IA

This is one driving day of about 133.9 miles and 2h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Emmetsburg, 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 US 20 for about 55.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 67 mi from Emmetsburg, IA · 1h 30m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Manson, IA

67 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

Pocahontas, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fort Dodge, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67 miles from Emmetsburg, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Ames, IA

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 133.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 133.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 133.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.3 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Emmetsburg, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 133.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 133.9

Ames, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

Discover Ames

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 133.9

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–4:30 pm

+15152324032

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.93 one way

$41.87 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$22.98	$45.97
premium	$4.89	$25.77	$51.54
diesel	$5.61	$29.56	$59.13

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 46.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	40.2	$14.06	$6.43
Efficient EV	33.5	$11.72	$5.36
EV Truck/SUV	53.6	$18.75	$8.57

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 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

Emmetsburg, IA

Late night in Emmetsburg on Saturday

Local time

12:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ames, IA

Late night in Ames on Saturday

Local time

12:41 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

23 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 49m 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 Emmetsburg, IA to Ames, IA covers 133.9 miles and takes about 2h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 20, I 35, 220th Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 67 miles from Emmetsburg, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.93 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.

This is a straightforward 2h 49m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The route from Emmetsburg, 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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Trip from Emmetsburg, IA to Ames, IA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Ames, IA

Nearby Places

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

EV Connect Charging Station

Discover Ames

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Emmetsburg, IA

Ames, IA

Same local time

23 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 49m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Emmetsburg, IA to Ames, IA?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How many breaks should I plan?

How hard is the drive from Emmetsburg, IA to Ames, IA?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Emmetsburg, IA to Ames, IA?

How this page is built

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