Origin
Mapleton, IA
Morning in Mapleton on Monday
Local time
7:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mapleton, IA to Ames, IA
Drive Time
2h 55m
Distance
125.6 mi
202 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
6 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 45m
★
6 AM
2h 56m
8 AM
3h 18m
10 AM
3h 4m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 17m
8 PM
2h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Anton Belitskiy
Trip Overview
The drive from Mapleton, IA to Ames, IA covers 125.6 miles and takes about 2h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 220th Street, 4th Avenue South, George P. Soumas Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 44.4 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.08 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
62.8 miles from Mapleton, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 55m drive with frequent turns across 125.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
220th Street is the longest continuous segment at about 44.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 141 / South 4th Street.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Mapleton, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 2h 55m with 2% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 141 / South 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.7 miles (US 59): Navigation decision point; at 122.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 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
|
IA 141 / South 4th Street
Turn left onto IA 141 / South 4th Street
Navigation decision point
3
27.7 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
US 59
Turn right onto US 59
Navigation decision point
4
122.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward Iowa State University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Iowa State University
3
123.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 51m in
|
South 4th Street
Turn right onto South 4th Street
Navigation decision point
4
125.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 55m in
|
I 35 Business / 13th Street
Turn right onto I 35 Business / 13th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 44.4 mi | 58m |
| 4th Avenue South | 29.8 mi | 44m |
| George P. Soumas Memorial Highway | 20.7 mi | 28m |
| County Road N33 | 10.3 mi | 13m |
| 230th Street | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| M Avenue | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| US 59 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| 210th Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 44.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mapleton, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
46 ft
·
9 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto IA 141
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South 4th Street
3
Continue on IA 141
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
4
Continue on IA 141
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
5
Continue on IA 141
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
West 1st Street
6
Continue on IA 141
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
210th Street
7
Continue on IA 141
10 mi
·
14 min
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
8
Continue on IA 141
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
M Avenue
9
Turn right onto US 59
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
US 59
10
Turn slight left
519 ft
·
23 sec
Toward US 30 East: Carroll
11
Continue on US 30
30 mi
·
44 min
·
4th Avenue South
12
Continue on US 30
10 mi
·
13 min
·
County Road N33
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 30
44 mi
·
58 min
·
220th Street
14
Continue on US 30
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
230th Street
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Iowa State University
16
Turn left onto University Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
University Boulevard
17
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 4th Street
18
Turn left onto South Grand Avenue
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Grand Avenue
19
Continue on I 35 Business; US 69
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Grand Avenue
20
Turn right onto I 35 Business
117 ft
·
3 sec
·
13th Street
21
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 62.8 miles from Mapleton, IA, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.4 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 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.8 miles or 1h 31m 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 24m
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 Mapleton, 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 Mapleton, IA
This is one driving day of about 125.6 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mapleton, 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 220th Street for about 44.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.8 mi from Mapleton, IA · 1h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 62.8 miles from Mapleton, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$19.08 one way
$38.15 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $21.03 | $42.06 |
| premium | $4.80 | $23.71 | $47.42 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $27.90 | $55.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
EV Charging Along Route
6 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Ames Ford Lincoln
Ames, IA
EV Connect
8 DCFC
Kwik Star - Tesla Supercharger
Ames, IA
Tesla
8 DCFC
504 E 6th St
Carroll, IA
CHARGELAB
4 DCFC
DeYarman CDJR Ames
Ames, IA
Blink Network
2 DCFC
AMES EV DC1
Ames, IA
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
AMES EV DC2
Ames, IA
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 2
CHARGELAB: 1
EV Connect: 1
Tesla: 1
Blink Network: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.7 | 0 | $13.19 | $6.03 |
| Efficient EV | 31.4 | 0 | $10.99 | $5.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.2 | 0 | $17.58 | $8.04 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Morning in Ames on Monday
Local time
7:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
47°F
Denison, IA
63 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
4 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 55m 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 Mapleton, IA to Ames, IA covers 125.6 miles and takes about 2h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 220th Street, 4th Avenue South, George P. Soumas Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.8 miles from Mapleton, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.08 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.
The drive from Mapleton, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 2h 55m with 2% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 141 / South 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.7 miles (US 59): Navigation decision point; at 122.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Mapleton, IA to Ames, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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