The drive from Greenfield, IA to Ames, IA covers 94.5 miles and takes about 1h 51m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, I 35, State Highway 25 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50.5 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.77 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
47.2 miles from Greenfield, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 94.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 1h 51m highway drive covering 94.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and I 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 50.5 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 50.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South 1st Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 51m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (IA 92 / Southeast Kent Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.7 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South 1st Street
Turn right onto South 1st Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 92 / Southeast Kent Street
Turn left onto IA 92 / Southeast Kent Street
Navigation decision point
4
13.7 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
9
50.1 mi into trip|~59m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
8
64.5 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, De...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Greenfield, IA and Ames, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City and Des Moines.
Minneapolis
50.1 mi in|~59m|via I 80
Kansas City
50.1 mi in|~59m|via I 80
Des Moines
64.5 mi in|~1h 15m|via I 35
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
50.5 mi
55m
I 35
27 mi
29m
State Highway 25
12.3 mi
16m
East 13th Street
2.7 mi
5m
Southeast 6th Street
0.9 mi
1m
Southeast Kent Street
0.4 mi
<1m
South 1st Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Public Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 50.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greenfield, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on Public Square
316 ft·18 sec·Public Square
2
Turn right onto South 1st Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·South 1st Street
3
Turn left onto IA 92
0.4 mi·37 sec·Southeast Kent Street
4
Turn left onto IA 25
0.9 mi·1 min·Southeast 6th Street
5
Continue on IA 25
12 mi·16 min·State Highway 25
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
7
Merge onto I 80; US 6
36 mi·38 min·I 80; US 6
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
27 mi·29 min·I 35
Toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
11
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi·5 min·East 13th Street
12
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 47.2 miles from Greenfield, IA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.5 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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.2 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 30m
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 Greenfield, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Greenfield, IA
This is one driving day of about 94.5 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Greenfield, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 50.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.2 mi from Greenfield, IA
· 56m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.77 one way
$29.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.22
$32.44
premium
$4.89
$18.19
$36.37
diesel
$5.61
$20.86
$41.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.3
0
$9.92
$4.54
Efficient EV
23.6
0
$8.27
$3.78
EV Truck/SUV
37.8
0
$13.23
$6.05
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Greenfield, IA
Late night
in Greenfield on Saturday
Local time
1:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ames, IA
Late night
in Ames on Saturday
Local time
1:24 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
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
1h 51m 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 Greenfield, IA to Ames, IA covers 94.5 miles and takes about 1h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 35, State Highway 25. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.2 miles from Greenfield, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.77 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 51m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (IA 92 / Southeast Kent Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.7 miles: Navigation decision point.
Between Greenfield, IA and Ames, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City and Des Moines.
