Origin
Garner, IA
Late night in Garner on Saturday
Local time
3:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Garner, 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 26m
Distance
76.4 mi
123 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Garner, IA
Jay's Photography
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Garner, IA to Ames, IA covers 76.4 miles and takes about 1h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Street, Sage Avenue, 190th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.94 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 76.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 26m drive with frequent turns across 76.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Street 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 Garner, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 1h 26m 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 Garner, IA to Ames, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Street | — | — |
| Sage Avenue | — | — |
| 190th Street | — | — |
| Somerset Road | — | — |
| I 35 | — | — |
| East 13th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
State Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Garner, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on East 3rd Street
69 ft
·
4 sec
·
East 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto State Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
State Street
3
Turn left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
4
Turn left onto Sage Avenue
27 mi
·
36 min
·
Sage Avenue
5
Turn left
15 mi
·
20 min
6
Turn left onto 190th Street
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
190th Street
7
Take the ramp right toward Somerset Road
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Somerset Road
8
Merge slight left
33 mi
·
35 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
10
Turn right onto East 13th Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East 13th Street
11
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.2 mi from Garner, IA · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.2 miles from Garner, 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
$11.94 one way
$23.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.11 | $26.23 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.70 | $29.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.87 | $33.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.02 | $3.67 |
| Efficient EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.69 | $3.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.6 | 0 | $10.70 | $4.89 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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
Late night in Ames on Saturday
Local time
3:48 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 26m 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 Garner, IA to Ames, IA covers 76.4 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Street, Sage Avenue, 190th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.2 miles from Garner, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.94 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.
The drive from Garner, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 1h 26m 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 Garner, IA to Ames, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Garner, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Ames, IA
More trips to Ames, IA
Explore more options from Garner, IA or browse trips ending in Ames, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.