Origin
Marshalltown, IA
Afternoon in Marshalltown on Sunday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marshalltown, IA to Ames, IA
Drive Time
53m
Distance
41.7 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
Photo: Anton Belitskiy
Trip Overview
Connecting Marshalltown to Ames is a straightforward 41.7-mile journey that typically takes about 53 minutes. Because this is a short trip within the Midwest, you can easily complete the drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $6 on fuel for the one-way transit. Navigating the route involves a mix of South Center Street, East 13th Street, and the Lincoln Highway. It serves as a practical, efficient link between these two Iowa communities, making it an ideal candidate for a quick morning or afternoon excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
20.9 miles from Marshalltown, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is best described as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul. While you will spend 33.3 miles of the journey on the Lincoln Highway, the route maintains a low highway share of only 3%. You should anticipate a more hands-on driving experience as you transition through local roads and corridors. The character of the drive shifts as you move between town streets and the longer highway stretches, requiring your full attention at the wheel. It lacks the monotony of a long-distance commute, offering a more varied pace for the driver.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lincoln Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 33.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 around 0.8 miles in near IA 14 / East Anson Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 53m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (IA 14 / East Anson Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (IA 14 / South Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IA 14 / East Anson Street
Turn right onto IA 14 / East Anson Street
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IA 14 / South Center Street
Turn left onto IA 14 / South Center Street
Navigation decision point
3
3.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
37 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
4
38.7 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward USDA Veterinary Labs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Marshalltown, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Usda Veterinary Labs along the way.
Usda Veterinary Labs
38.7 mi in
|
~47m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Highway | 33.3 mi | 38m |
| East 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| South Center Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| I 35 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| North 3rd Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Anson Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 13th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 33.3 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marshalltown, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on IA 14
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North 3rd Avenue
2
Turn right onto IA 14
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
East Anson Street
3
Turn left onto IA 14
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Center Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
5
Merge onto US 30
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Lincoln Highway
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
7
Merge onto I 35
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
9
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
10
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Trip Plan
Since the total duration is under an hour, you have maximum flexibility when planning your departure time. You won't need to worry about scheduling rest stops, as the 41.7-mile distance is easily manageable in one go. Budget approximately $6 for gas to ensure you have enough to cover the round trip comfortably. Because the route relies heavily on local streets, keep an eye on navigation as you transition between South Center Street and the Lincoln Highway. Taking advantage of the short duration allows you to maximize your time at your destination rather than worrying about heavy road fatigue.
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 20.9 miles from Marshalltown, IA, or about 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.3 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 41.7 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.9 miles or 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 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 Marshalltown, 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 Marshalltown, IA
This is one driving day of about 41.7 miles and 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Marshalltown, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Lincoln Highway for about 33.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.9 mi from Marshalltown, IA · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.9 miles from Marshalltown, 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
$6.33 one way
$12.67 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $6.98 | $13.96 |
| premium | $4.80 | $7.87 | $15.74 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $9.26 | $18.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.84 | $2.67 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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 Sunday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°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
1 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
53m 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 Marshalltown, IA to Ames, IA covers 41.7 miles and takes about 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lincoln Highway, East 13th Street, South Center Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.9 miles from Marshalltown, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.33 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.
This is a straightforward 53m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (IA 14 / East Anson Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (IA 14 / South Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Marshalltown, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Usda Veterinary Labs along the way.
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