This straightforward 83.4-mile drive from Parkersburg, IA to Ames, IA will take you about 1 hour and 41 minutes. Primarily utilizing US 20 and I-35, this route is a convenient option for a single-day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost is around $13, making it an affordable journey. You'll be staying within the Midwest region throughout your travel. This highway-focused route is designed for efficient travel between these two Iowa communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.7 miles from Parkersburg, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
42.3 mi
48m
I 35
28.6 mi
30m
N Avenue
6.4 mi
9m
East 13th Street
2.4 mi
4m
6th Street
1.4 mi
2m
State Highway 14
1 mi
1m
I 35 Business
0.4 mi
<1m
Coates Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 42.3 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Parkersburg, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on this road
61 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Coates Street
0.2 mi·52 sec·Coates Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto IA 14
1.4 mi·2 min·6th Street
4
Turn right onto IA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 14
5
Continue on IA 14
6.4 mi·9 min·N Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
7
Merge onto US 20
42 mi·48 min·US 20
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·54 sec
Toward I 35 South: Des MoinesUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 35
29 mi·30 min·I 35
10
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
0.4 mi·52 sec·I 35 Business
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
11
Turn right onto I 35 Business
2.4 mi·4 min·East 13th Street
12
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just over an hour and a half, you have a lot of flexibility with this trip. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon works well, and you can easily complete it in one day. There are no designated stops listed, so feel free to take breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before heading out, as the longest stretch on US 20 is over 42 miles. You can expect to spend around $13 on gas for this trip.
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 41.7 miles from Parkersburg, IA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.3 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.7 miles or 52m 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 24m
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 Parkersburg, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Parkersburg, IA
This is one driving day of about 83.4 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Parkersburg, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 42.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 51.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Coates Street
Turn right onto Coates Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 14 / 6th Street
At end of road, turn left onto IA 14 / 6th Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|IA 14 / State Highway 14
Turn right onto IA 14 / State Highway 14
Navigation decision point
4
9 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
6
51.7 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.04 one way
$26.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.32
$28.63
premium
$4.89
$16.05
$32.10
diesel
$5.61
$18.41
$36.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25
0
$8.76
$4.00
Efficient EV
20.9
0
$7.30
$3.34
EV Truck/SUV
33.4
0
$11.68
$5.34
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Parkersburg, IA
Afternoon
in Parkersburg on Saturday
Local time
2:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ames, IA
Afternoon
in Ames on Saturday
Local time
2:15 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
22 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 41m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 87% of this 83.4-mile journey. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, including stretches of US 20 and I-35. The longest continuous section without a significant change in road type is 42.3 miles on US 20. This means you'll likely encounter fewer distractions and maintain a consistent pace for much of the drive. The route is designed for moving efficiently rather than exploring winding backroads.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.3 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Coates 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 1h 41m drive. You will face about 9 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 (Coates Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (IA 14 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (IA 14 / State Highway 14): Navigation decision point.
Ames is a pleasant college town in Central Iowa, sitting astride the Skunk River roughly 30 miles north of Des Moines. Life in Ames follows the ebb and flow of the academic year at Iowa State University, which is the city's primary draw.
The longest stretch is about 42.3 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Coates Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (IA 14 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (IA 14 / State Highway 14): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ames, IA before heading back.
