Origin
Melcher-Dallas, IA
Morning in Melcher-Dallas on Saturday
Local time
9:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Melcher-Dallas, 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
1h 12m
Distance
71 mi
114 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Melcher-Dallas, IA
Talena Reese
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Melcher-Dallas, IA to Ames, IA covers 71 miles and takes about 1h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on B Street Northwest, 1st Street Northwest, County Road S45 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.10 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 71 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 12m drive with frequent turns across 71 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
B Street Northwest is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Melcher-Dallas, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 1h 12m 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 Melcher-Dallas, IA to Ames, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| B Street Northwest | — | — |
| 1st Street Northwest | — | — |
| County Road S45 | — | — |
| Highway 5 | — | — |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | — | — |
| I 80 West | — | — |
| I-35 north | — | — |
| I-35 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
B Street Northwest
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Melcher-Dallas, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on Northeast Main Street
463 ft
·
15 sec
·
Northeast Main Street
2
At the end of the road, turn left onto B Street Northwest
367 ft
·
10 sec
·
B Street Northwest
3
Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest
463 ft
·
9 sec
·
1st Street Northwest
4
Continue on County Road S45
9.2 mi
·
16 min
·
County Road S45
5
Continue straight
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
6
Continue on State Highway 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 5
7
Take the exit slight right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
8
Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
9
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 West: Council Bluffs
10
Merge slight left
0.9 mi
·
1 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I-35 north: Minneapolis
12
Continue on I-35 north: Minneapolis
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I-35 north: Minneapolis
13
Continue on I-35 North: Minneapolis
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
I-35 North: Minneapolis
14
Merge slight left onto I 35 North: Minneapolis
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 35 North: Minneapolis
15
Take the exit slight right toward USDA Veterinary Labs
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
USDA Veterinary Labs
16
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
17
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.5 mi from Melcher-Dallas, IA · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.5 miles from Melcher-Dallas, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.10 one way
$22.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.19 | $24.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.66 | $27.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.68 | $31.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
| Efficient EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.21 | $2.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.94 | $4.54 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 Saturday
Local time
9:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Altoona, IA
36 mi in
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
18 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
1h 12m 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 Melcher-Dallas, IA to Ames, IA covers 71 miles and takes about 1h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are B Street Northwest, 1st Street Northwest, County Road S45. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.5 miles from Melcher-Dallas, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.10 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.
The drive from Melcher-Dallas, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 1h 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Melcher-Dallas, IA to Ames, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Melcher-Dallas, IA to Ames, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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