Origin
Hiawatha, IA
Afternoon in Hiawatha on Saturday
Local time
1:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hiawatha, 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 8m
Distance
106.3 mi
171 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 0m
★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 15m
12 PM
2h 13m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hiawatha, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 106.3-mile drive from Hiawatha, IA to Ames, IA is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 8 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate via Lincoln Highway, 73rd Street, and IA 100, with only a 7% share of highway driving, suggesting a more local road experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $17, making it an economical option. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent Midwestern feel throughout. It's a straightforward drive, well-suited for a relaxed day trip without the need for an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.2 miles from Hiawatha, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Highway | 65.7 mi | 1h 16m |
| 73rd Street | 24.4 mi | 28m |
| IA 100 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| East 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| 16th Avenue Southwest | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| I 35 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Blairs Ferry Road Northeast | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Edgewood Road Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 65.7 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hiawatha, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on Heefner Street
205 ft
·
14 sec
·
Heefner Street
2
Turn left onto 10th Avenue
393 ft
·
14 sec
·
10th Avenue
3
Turn right onto Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
4
Turn left onto Edgewood Road Northeast
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Edgewood Road Northeast
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward IA 100 west
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto IA 100
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
IA 100
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
8
Merge onto US 30; US 218
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Avenue Southwest
9
Continue on US 30; US 218
24 mi
·
28 min
·
73rd Street
10
Continue on US 30
66 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
Lincoln Highway
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
12
Merge onto I 35
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
14
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
15
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 8 minutes, this 106.3-mile trip offers plenty of flexibility for when you depart. Consider an early morning start to maximize your day in Ames, or a mid-morning departure to enjoy a more leisurely pace. With no designated stops, you can easily pull over at any point that catches your eye or when you need a break. Keep an eye on your fuel as you navigate the local roads; the estimated $17 cost is a good baseline, but it’s always wise to top up before heading out. A practical tip for this route: pay close attention to signage for Lincoln Highway, as it's your longest continuous stretch and a key artery for much of this drive.
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 53.2 miles from Hiawatha, IA, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.7 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.2 miles or 1h 3m 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 43m
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 Hiawatha, 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 Hiawatha, IA
This is one driving day of about 106.3 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Hiawatha, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lincoln Highway for about 65.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 53.2 miles from Hiawatha, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Lincoln Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 101.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
10th Avenue
Turn left onto 10th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Edgewood Road Northeast
Turn left onto Edgewood Road Northeast
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward IA 100 west
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward IA 100 west
5
8.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshall...
4
101.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.62 one way
$33.24 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.25 | $36.49 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.46 | $40.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.47 | $46.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.9 | 0 | $11.16 | $5.10 |
| Efficient EV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.30 | $4.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.5 | 0 | $14.88 | $6.80 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Afternoon in Ames on Saturday
Local time
1:06 PM
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
2 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
2h 8m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 106.3-mile journey. With only a 7% highway share, you'll spend most of your time on local roads, experiencing frequent turns and a more intimate connection with the landscape. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 65.7 miles on Lincoln Highway, offering a period of steady progress before transitioning back to more varied road conditions. This profile suggests a drive that requires your attention to navigation but rewards you with a closer look at the Iowa countryside rather than a high-speed interstate cruise.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.7 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 10th 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 2h 8m 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 (10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Edgewood Road Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hiawatha, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marshalltown along the way.
Marshalltown
8.4 mi in
|
~11m
About the Cities
Arriving in Ames, IA
Full guide →Ames is a pleasant college town in Central Iowa, sitting astride the Skunk River roughly 30 miles north of Des Moines. Life in Ames follows the ebb and flow of the academic year at Iowa State University, which is the city's primary draw.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 106.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (7%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.7 miles on Lincoln Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Edgewood Road Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ames, IA before heading back.
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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