Origin
Ogden, IA
Late night in Ogden on Saturday
Local time
3:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
24.6 mi
40 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ogden, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ogden, IA to Ames, IA is 24.6 miles and takes about 34 minutes via 220th Street, 230th Street, and University Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within Iowa, taking you from the Midwest plains to another part of the same region. Expect a local driving experience, characterized by frequent turns rather than long stretches of highway. Given its brevity, this trip is ideal for a quick transition or as part of a larger journey through the area, offering a straightforward connection between two points.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 24.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m 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.
This route is a turn-heavy local drive, with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll navigate through smaller roads for the entire 24.6 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.8 miles along 220th Street, offering a brief period of steady progress before more turns. As you travel, expect a changing landscape typical of rural Iowa, with the roads guiding you through communities and agricultural areas. The frequent turns are a defining characteristic, requiring your attention and making it feel like a true local exploration rather than a high-speed transit.
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 early in the drive near South 1st Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 34m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 1 miles (US 30 / 220th Street): Merge point - match speed before joining.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto South 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Merge onto US 30 / 220th Street
Merge point - match speed before joining
Take the exit toward Iowa State University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn right onto I 35 Business / 13th Street
Navigation decision point
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ogden, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Iowa State University along the way.
Iowa State University
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 12.8 mi | 15m |
| 230th Street | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| University Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Grand Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| South 4th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South 1st Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Grand Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| H Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ogden, IA and Ames, IA.
Start on CR E41
Turn left onto South 1st Street
Continue on US 169
Take the exit
Merge onto US 30
Continue on US 30
Take the exit
Turn left onto University Boulevard
Turn right onto South 4th Street
Turn left onto South Grand Avenue
Continue on I 35 Business; US 69
Turn right onto I 35 Business
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$3.85 one way
$7.69 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.22 | $8.45 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.73 | $9.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.43 | $10.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.58 | $1.18 |
| Efficient EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.15 | $0.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.44 | $1.57 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Ogden on Saturday
Local time
3:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Ames on Saturday
Local time
3:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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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