Origin
Manchester, IA
Afternoon in Manchester on Thursday
Local time
12:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Manchester, IA to Ames, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 48m
Distance
143.3 mi
231 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
27 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 37m
★
6 AM
2h 48m
8 AM
3h 10m
10 AM
2h 56m
12 PM
2h 54m
3 PM
2h 57m
5 PM
3h 9m
8 PM
2h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manchester, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Manchester, IA to Ames, IA covers 143.3 miles and takes about 2h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, US 20, I 35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 66.5 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.40 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
71.6 miles from Manchester, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 143.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Manchester, IA to Ames, IA covers 143.3 miles and takes about 2h 48m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 66.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR D22 / East Main Street.
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 48m drive. You will face about 9 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 (CR D22 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (IA 13 / State Highway 13): Navigation decision point; at 45.1 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR D22 / East Main Street
Turn right onto CR D22 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
IA 13 / State Highway 13
Turn left onto IA 13 / State Highway 13
Navigation decision point
4
45.1 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
111.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
4
140.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 42m in
|
I 35 Business
Take the exit onto I 35 Business toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 66.5 mi | 1h 16m |
| US 20 | 42.3 mi | 48m |
| I 35 | 28.6 mi | 30m |
| East 13th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 13 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| I 35 Business | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Tama Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 66.5 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manchester, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on North Tama Street
58 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Tama Street
2
Turn right onto CR D22
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
3
Turn left onto IA 13
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 13
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
5
Merge onto US 20
42 mi
·
48 min
·
US 20
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
66 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 35
29 mi
·
30 min
·
I 35
9
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 35 Business
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
10
Turn right onto I 35 Business
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East 13th Street
11
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.6 miles from Manchester, IA, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.5 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 32 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.6 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 17m
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 Manchester, 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 Manchester, IA
This is one driving day of about 143.3 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Manchester, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 66.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71.6 mi from Manchester, IA · 1h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 71.6 miles from Manchester, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.5 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
$22.40 one way
$44.81 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.60 | $49.20 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.58 | $55.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.64 | $63.28 |
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: 50.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
27 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
ChargePoint Charging Station
Ames, Iowa
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Ames, Iowa
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Ames, Iowa
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Ames, Iowa
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Ames, Iowa
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Ames, Iowa
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Ames, Iowa
EV Connect
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Ames, Iowa
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 14
Other: 6
Tesla: 2
Blink: 2
EV Connect: 1
Shell Recharge: 1
EVgo: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43 | 0 | $15.05 | $6.88 |
| Efficient EV | 35.8 | 0 | $12.54 | $5.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.3 | 0 | $20.06 | $9.17 |
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 Thursday
Local time
12:38 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
23 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 48m 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 Manchester, IA to Ames, IA covers 143.3 miles and takes about 2h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, US 20, I 35. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.6 miles from Manchester, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.40 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 48m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR D22 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (IA 13 / State Highway 13): Navigation decision point; at 45.1 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Manchester, IA to Ames, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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