The drive from Nashua, IA to Ames, IA covers 114.3 miles and takes about 2h 26m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, State Highway 3, 210th Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.4 miles on I 35.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.42 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
57.1 miles from Nashua, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 114.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 26m highway drive covering 114.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and State Highway 3. The longest continuous stretch is about 51.4 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 51.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and State Highway 3. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IA 346 / Sample Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 26m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IA 346 / Sample Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (IA 3 / 210th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 346 / Sample Street
Turn left onto IA 346 / Sample Street
Navigation decision point
3
1 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
21.9 mi into trip|~31m in|IA 3 / 210th Street
At end of road, turn right onto IA 3 / 210th Street
Navigation decision point
6
59.8 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the ramp toward Hampton, Clarion
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Hampton, Clarion
4
111.5 mi into trip|~2h 20m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Nashua, IA and Ames, IA, road signs point toward Hampton and Clarion.
Hampton
59.8 mi in|~1h 24m
Clarion
59.8 mi in|~1h 24m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
51.4 mi
55m
State Highway 3
18.2 mi
25m
210th Street
15.7 mi
21m
Avenue of the Saints
6.6 mi
7m
140th Street
6.4 mi
9m
Spring Avenue
4 mi
5m
East 13th Street
2.4 mi
4m
Central Avenue East
2.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 51.4 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nashua, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.1 mi·32 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto IA 346
0.9 mi·1 min·Sample Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·49 sec
4
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
6.6 mi·7 min·Avenue of the Saints
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
6
Turn right onto IA 188
6.4 mi·9 min·140th Street
7
Turn left onto IA 188
4.0 mi·5 min·Spring Avenue
8
Continue on IA 188
1.5 mi·2 min·North Main Street
9
Continue on State Highway 188
1.8 mi·2 min·State Highway 188
10
At end of road, turn right onto IA 3
6.5 mi·8 min·210th Street
11
Continue on IA 3; IA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 3
12
Continue on IA 3
7.4 mi·10 min·210th Street
13
Continue on IA 3
1.7 mi·2 min·South Street
14
Continue on IA 3
1.8 mi·2 min·210th Street
15
Continue on IA 3
8.2 mi·11 min·State Highway 3
16
Continue on IA 3
2.1 mi·4 min·Central Avenue East
17
Continue on IA 3
9.0 mi·12 min·State Highway 3
18
Continue on IA 3
517 ft·13 sec·Balsam Avenue
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Hampton, Clarion
20
Merge onto I 35
51 mi·55 min·I 35
21
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
0.4 mi·52 sec·I 35 Business
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
22
Turn right onto I 35 Business
2.4 mi·4 min·East 13th Street
23
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 57.1 miles from Nashua, IA, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.4 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 25 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.1 miles or 1h 21m 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 1m
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 Nashua, 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 Nashua, IA
This is one driving day of about 114.3 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Nashua, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 51.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.1 mi from Nashua, IA
· 1h 21m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.3
0
$12.00
$5.49
Efficient EV
28.6
0
$10.00
$4.57
EV Truck/SUV
45.7
0
$16.00
$7.32
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Nashua, IA
Morning
in Nashua on Saturday
Local time
8:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ames, IA
Morning
in Ames on Saturday
Local time
8:48 AM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 26m 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 Nashua, IA to Ames, IA covers 114.3 miles and takes about 2h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, State Highway 3, 210th 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 57.1 miles from Nashua, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.87 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 2h 26m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IA 346 / Sample Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (IA 3 / 210th Street): Navigation decision point.
Between Nashua, IA and Ames, IA, road signs point toward Hampton and Clarion.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
