Origin
Kalona, IA
Afternoon in Kalona on Saturday
Local time
1:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kalona, 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 20m
Distance
141.6 mi
228 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 10m
★
6 AM
2h 20m
8 AM
2h 39m
10 AM
2h 27m
12 PM
2h 25m
3 PM
2h 28m
5 PM
2h 38m
8 PM
2h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kalona, IA
Vasilij Zajcev
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Kalona, IA to Ames, IA covers 141.6 miles and takes about 2h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 5th Street, East Avenue, 1st Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.14 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
70.8 miles from Kalona, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 5th Street | — | — |
| East Avenue | — | — |
| 1st Street | — | — |
| Highway 1 | — | — |
| 500th Street Southwest | — | — |
| Orval Yoder Turnpike Southwest | — | — |
| Black Diamond Road Southwest | — | — |
| Black Hawk Avenue Southwest | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
5th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kalona, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on B Avenue
36 ft
·
4 sec
·
B Avenue
2
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
5th Street
3
Turn left onto East Avenue
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Avenue
4
Turn right onto 1st Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street
5
Continue on State Highway 1
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 1
6
Continue on Highway 1 Southwest
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Highway 1 Southwest
7
Turn left onto 500th Street Southwest
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
500th Street Southwest
8
Turn right onto Orval Yoder Turnpike Southwest
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Orval Yoder Turnpike Southwest
9
At the end of the road, turn left onto Black Diamond Road Southwest
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Black Diamond Road Southwest
10
Turn right onto Black Hawk Avenue Southwest
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Black Hawk Avenue Southwest
11
Keep slight left to continue on Black Hawk Avenue Southwest
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Black Hawk Avenue Southwest
12
Continue on Black Hawk Avenue Northwest
505 ft
·
17 sec
·
Black Hawk Avenue Northwest
13
Take the ramp left
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
14
Merge slight left
91 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I-35 north: Minneapolis
16
Continue on I-35 north: Minneapolis
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I-35 north: Minneapolis
17
Continue on I-35 North: Minneapolis
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
I-35 North: Minneapolis
18
Merge slight left onto I 35 North: Minneapolis
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 35 North: Minneapolis
19
Take the exit slight right toward USDA Veterinary Labs
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
USDA Veterinary Labs
20
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
21
Arrive at your destination
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 70.8 miles from Kalona, IA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
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 31 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.8 miles or 1h 10m 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 54m
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 Kalona, 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 Kalona, IA
This is one driving day of about 141.6 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Kalona, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 70.8 miles from Kalona, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.14 one way
$44.28 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.31 | $48.61 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.25 | $54.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.26 | $62.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.5 | 0 | $14.87 | $6.80 |
| Efficient EV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.39 | $5.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.6 | 0 | $19.82 | $9.06 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Destination
Ames, IA
Afternoon in Ames on Saturday
Local time
1:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Brooklyn, IA
71 mi in
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
19 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 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.
What kind of drive is this?
141.6 mi in 2h 20m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: 5th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 Kalona, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 2h 20m 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 Kalona, IA to Ames, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
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 20m. Total distance: 141.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kalona, IA to Ames, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
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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