Walford, IA to Ames, IA is 101.3 miles and takes about 2h 4m via Lincoln Highway, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest. Expect a local feel with plenty of turns, making it a good choice if you prefer a more engaging, less highway-focused journey. It's a manageable distance, perfect for a single day trip without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.7 miles from Walford, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 101.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This route is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll navigate a variety of smaller roads rather than a continuous interstate. With a highway share of only 1%, most of your time will be spent on local routes like Lincoln Highway, 73rd Street, and 30th Avenue. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 65.7 miles on Lincoln Highway, offering a decent period of consistent driving before you encounter more turns. This isn't a high-speed journey; instead, anticipate a more intimate experience with the Iowa landscape.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 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 65.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 3rd Street North.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Walford, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 2h 4m with 1% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (3rd Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 151 / Co Trunk Rd E68): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (Railroad Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|3rd Street North
Turn right onto 3rd Street North
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 151 / Co Trunk Rd E68
Turn right onto US 151 / Co Trunk Rd E68
Navigation decision point
5
6 mi into trip|~10m in|Railroad Street
At end of road, turn right onto Railroad Street
Navigation decision point
4
96.6 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
4
98.3 mi into trip|~1h 58m 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
65.7 mi
1h 16m
73rd Street
20.4 mi
23m
30th Avenue
5.8 mi
8m
79th Street
3.5 mi
5m
East 13th Street
2.7 mi
5m
I 35
1.2 mi
1m
Euclid Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Railroad Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 65.7 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Walford, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on B Avenue West
107 ft·6 sec·B Avenue West
2
Turn right onto 3rd Street North
212 ft·9 sec·3rd Street North
3
Turn right onto US 151
0.2 mi·24 sec·Co Trunk Rd E68
4
Continue on US 151
0.1 mi·12 sec·1st Avenue
5
Continue on US 151
1.4 mi·1 min·79th Street
6
Continue on 79th Street
2.1 mi·3 min·79th Street
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on 30th Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·30th Avenue
8
Continue on Euclid Avenue
0.4 mi·44 sec·Euclid Avenue
9
At end of road, turn right onto Railroad Street
0.3 mi·28 sec·Railroad Street
10
Continue on 30th Avenue
4.2 mi·5 min·30th Avenue
11
Turn left onto US 30; US 218
20 mi·23 min·73rd Street
12
Continue on US 30
66 mi·1 hr 16 min·Lincoln Highway
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
14
Merge onto I 35
1.2 mi·1 min·I 35
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward USDA Veterinary Labs
16
Turn left onto East 13th Street
2.7 mi·5 min·East 13th Street
17
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2h 4m duration and 101.3-mile distance, you have a lot of flexibility. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid any early rush and allow for a leisurely pace. With no designated stops in the data, you can be spontaneous, but be mindful of the $16 fuel cost and plan your fill-ups accordingly, especially since the longest stretch without a major road change is 65.7 miles. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy' nature of this drive means paying attention to upcoming turns is key to staying on track.
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 50.7 miles from Walford, IA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.7 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 22 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.7 miles or 1h 2m 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 40m
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 Walford, 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 Walford, IA
This is one driving day of about 101.3 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Walford, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lincoln Highway for about 65.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.7 mi from Walford, IA
· 1h 2m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.84 one way
$31.67 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.39
$34.78
premium
$4.89
$19.49
$38.99
diesel
$5.61
$22.37
$44.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.4
0
$10.64
$4.86
Efficient EV
25.3
0
$8.86
$4.05
EV Truck/SUV
40.5
0
$14.18
$6.48
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Walford, IA
Evening
in Walford on Friday
Local time
5:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ames, IA
Evening
in Ames on Friday
Local time
5:03 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
21 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
2h 4m 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 Walford, IA to Ames, IA covers 101.3 miles and takes about 2h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lincoln Highway, 73rd Street, 30th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.7 miles from Walford, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.84 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 Walford, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 2h 4m with 1% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (3rd Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 151 / Co Trunk Rd E68): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (Railroad Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Walford, IA to Ames, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
