Origin
Mount Vernon, IA
Night in Mount Vernon on Thursday
Local time
10:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mount Vernon, IA to Ames, IA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
117.5 mi
189 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 11m
★
6 AM
2h 20m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 27m
12 PM
2h 25m
3 PM
2h 28m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mount Vernon, IA
Tom Fisk
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mount Vernon, IA to Ames, IA covers 117.5 miles and takes about 2h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 30, US 30 Bus, East 13th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 95.7 miles on US 30. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.37 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.
Midpoint
58.8 miles from Mount Vernon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 117.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 20m highway drive covering 117.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 30 and US 30 Bus. The longest continuous stretch is about 95.7 miles on US 30.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 30 is the longest continuous segment at about 95.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 30 and US 30 Bus. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Mount Vernon, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 2h 20m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (1st Street East): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IA 1 / 1st Avenue South): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
1st Street East
Turn left onto 1st Street East
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 1 / 1st Avenue South
Turn left onto IA 1 / 1st Avenue South
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 30 Bus; IA 1 / State Highway 1
Enter roundabout onto US 30 Bus; IA 1 / State Highway 1
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 30 Bus
Take the ramp onto US 30 Bus toward US 30 west: Cedar Rapids
Navigation decision point
Toward US 30 west: Cedar Rapids
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 30 | 95.7 mi | 1h 50m |
| US 30 Bus | 16.2 mi | 18m |
| East 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| I 35 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| State Highway 1 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 1st Avenue South | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street East | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 13th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 30
— 95.7 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Vernon, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on this road
75 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
65 ft
·
10 sec
3
Turn left onto 1st Street East
230 ft
·
13 sec
·
1st Street East
4
Turn left onto IA 1
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
1st Avenue South
5
Continue on IA 1
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
State Highway 1
6
Enter roundabout onto US 30 Bus; IA 1
121 ft
·
5 sec
·
State Highway 1
7
Continue on US 30 Bus; IA 1
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
State Highway 1
8
Take the ramp onto US 30 Bus
16 mi
·
18 min
·
US 30 Bus
Toward US 30 west: Cedar Rapids
9
Continue on US 30; US 218
96 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
·
US 30; US 218
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
11
Merge onto I 35
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
13
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
14
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58.8 miles from Mount Vernon, IA, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.7 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 26 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.8 miles or 1h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 52m
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 Mount Vernon, 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 Mount Vernon, IA
This is one driving day of about 117.5 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Mount Vernon, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 30 for about 95.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.8 mi from Mount Vernon, IA · 1h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58.8 miles from Mount Vernon, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 30 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 95.7 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
$18.37 one way
$36.74 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.17 | $40.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.61 | $45.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.94 | $51.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.3 | 0 | $12.34 | $5.64 |
| Efficient EV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.28 | $4.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47 | 0 | $16.45 | $7.52 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Night in Ames on Thursday
Local time
10:51 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
2 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 20m 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 Mount Vernon, IA to Ames, IA covers 117.5 miles and takes about 2h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 30, US 30 Bus, East 13th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.8 miles from Mount Vernon, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.37 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 Mount Vernon, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 2h 20m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (1st Street East): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IA 1 / 1st Avenue South): Navigation decision point.
The route from Mount Vernon, IA to Ames, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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