Origin
Reinbeck, IA
Late night in Reinbeck on Friday
Local time
12:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Reinbeck, IA to Ames, IA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
78.4 mi
126 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Reinbeck, IA
Wolfgang Weiser
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 75.9-mile drive from Reinbeck, IA, to Ames, IA, is a straightforward, one-day trip taking approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes. You'll primarily navigate local roads, including Grundy Avenue, 260th Street, and Diagonal Road, with no highway driving involved. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $12, making it an economical option. Given its short duration and local road nature, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. It offers a simple, direct connection within the Midwest region of Iowa.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.2 miles from Reinbeck, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 78.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (4%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share. The roads are predominantly local, meaning you'll be navigating a series of turns and changes in direction rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. While there's no specific mention of the longest continuous segment, the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent adjustments are part of the experience. This type of driving often means you'll be passing through smaller communities and more varied rural landscapes as you make your way across Iowa.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lincoln Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 27.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IA 175 / Grundy Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.4 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IA 175 / Grundy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 16.6 miles (IA 14 / Sanford Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 36.8 miles (IA 330 / North Main Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 175 / Grundy Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto IA 175 / Grundy Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
16.6 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
IA 14 / Sanford Avenue
Turn left onto IA 14 / Sanford Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
36.8 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
IA 330 / North Main Street
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 330 / North Main Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
73.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
4
75.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward USDA Veterinary Labs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Highway | 27.8 mi | 32m |
| Sanford Avenue | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| Diagonal Road | 7.4 mi | 11m |
| 240th Street | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Marsh Avenue | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| 160th Street | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| East 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| IA 330 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 27.8 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reinbeck, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on Blackhawk Street
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
Blackhawk Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto IA 175
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Grundy Avenue
3
Continue on 260th Street
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
260th Street
4
Turn straight onto IA 175
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Diagonal Road
5
Continue on IA 175
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
1st Street
6
Continue on IA 175
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Diagonal Road
7
Continue on IA 175
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
G Avenue
8
Continue on IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
9
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
10
Turn right onto IA 330
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
11
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
12
Continue on IA 330
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
13
Turn right onto IA 330
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
IA 330
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
15
Merge onto US 30
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Lincoln Highway
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
17
Merge onto I 35
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
19
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East 13th Street
20
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 24-minute journey, flexibility is key. You can easily depart Reinbeck at your leisure, as the 75.9 miles won't require extensive planning for stops. With a fuel cost estimated at just $12, you likely won't need to worry about frequent refueling. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means staying alert to road signs and navigation is important. A good tip is to ensure your GPS is fully charged or you have a reliable map, as you'll be making more frequent directional changes than on a highway route.
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 39.2 miles from Reinbeck, IA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.8 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.2 miles or 56m 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 29m
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 Reinbeck, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Reinbeck, IA
This is one driving day of about 78.4 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Reinbeck, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lincoln Highway for about 27.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.2 mi from Reinbeck, IA · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.2 miles from Reinbeck, 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
$12.26 one way
$24.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.46 | $26.92 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.09 | $30.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.31 | $34.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.23 | $3.76 |
| Efficient EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.86 | $3.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.4 | 0 | $10.98 | $5.02 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Ames, IA
Late night in Ames on Friday
Local time
12:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Albion, IA
39 mi in
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 46m 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 Reinbeck, IA to Ames, IA covers 78.4 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lincoln Highway, Sanford Avenue, Diagonal Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.2 miles from Reinbeck, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.26 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.4 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IA 175 / Grundy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 16.6 miles (IA 14 / Sanford Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 36.8 miles (IA 330 / North Main Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Reinbeck, IA to Ames, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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