Origin
Keokuk, IA
Late night in Keokuk on Wednesday
Local time
5:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Keokuk, IA to Ames, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 13m
Distance
212.2 mi
342 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 0m
★
6 AM
4h 13m
8 AM
4h 40m
10 AM
4h 23m
12 PM
4h 20m
3 PM
4h 24m
5 PM
4h 38m
8 PM
4h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Keokuk, IA
Egor Komarov
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Keokuk, IA to Ames, IA covers 212.2 miles and takes about 4h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 63, US 34, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 69.4 miles on US 63. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.18 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
106.1 miles from Keokuk, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 4h 13m highway drive covering 212.2 miles, with most of the trip on US 63 and US 34. The longest continuous stretch is about 69.4 miles on US 63.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 63 is the longest continuous segment at about 69.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 63 and US 34. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in near US 218.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 212.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles (US 218): Navigation decision point; at 45.3 miles (US 34; IA 163): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 180.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
9.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
US 218
Turn left onto US 218
Navigation decision point
5
45.3 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
US 34; IA 163
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 45
5
180.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
7
182.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 36m in
Take the exit toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
6
183.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 38m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35 toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 63 | 69.4 mi | 1h 20m |
| US 34 | 61.1 mi | 1h 10m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 26.5 mi | 30m |
| I 35 | 25.7 mi | 28m |
| US 218 | 9.7 mi | 14m |
| US 61 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 3.5 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 69.4 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Keokuk, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on US 136
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Main Street
2
Continue on US 61; US 218
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
US 61; US 218
3
Turn left onto US 218
9.2 mi
·
13 min
·
US 218
4
Take the ramp onto US 218
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 218
5
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
27 mi
·
30 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163
61 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
US 34; IA 163
Exit 45
7
Continue on US 63; IA 163
69 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
US 63; IA 163
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
9
Merge onto US 65
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
10
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
11
Merge onto I 80
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
14
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 North: Minneapolis
15
Merge onto I 35
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 35
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
17
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
18
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 106.1 miles from Keokuk, IA, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.4 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.1 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 26m
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 Keokuk, 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 Keokuk, IA
This is one driving day of about 212.2 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Keokuk, 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 63 for about 69.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 106.1 mi from Keokuk, IA · 2h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
106 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 106.1 miles from Keokuk, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 63 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69.4 miles.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Ames, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.18 one way
$66.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $36.42 | $72.85 |
| premium | $4.89 | $40.84 | $81.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.85 | $93.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.7 | 0 | $22.28 | $10.19 |
| Efficient EV | 53.1 | 0 | $18.57 | $8.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.9 | 1 | $29.71 | $13.58 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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
Late night in Ames on Wednesday
Local time
5:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Indiana, IA
106 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
17 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
4h 13m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Keokuk, IA to Ames, IA covers 212.2 miles and takes about 4h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 63, US 34, Avenue of the Saints. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 106.1 miles from Keokuk, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.18 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 212.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles (US 218): Navigation decision point; at 45.3 miles (US 34; IA 163): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 180.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Keokuk, IA to Ames, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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