Origin
Washington, IA
Morning in Washington on Saturday
Local time
7:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Washington, IA to Ames, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
61.1 mi
98 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Washington, IA
Paula Nardini
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Washington, IA to Ames, IA covers 61.1 miles and takes about 1h 10m 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, East 13th 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 $9.55 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 61.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 10m highway drive covering 61.1 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 7 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 6.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Washington, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 1h 10m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 58.2 miles (I 35 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
6.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward Hampton, Clarion
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Hampton, Clarion
3
6.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
58.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m 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
3
58.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
I 35 Business / East 13th Street
Turn right onto I 35 Business / East 13th Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Washington, IA and Ames, IA, road signs point toward Hampton and Clarion.
Hampton
6.5 mi in
|
~9m
Clarion
6.5 mi in
|
~9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 51.4 mi | 55m |
| State Highway 3 | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| East 13th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| I 35 Business | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Balsam Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 13th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 51.4 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on IA 3
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 3
2
Continue on IA 3
517 ft
·
13 sec
·
Balsam Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Hampton, Clarion
4
Merge onto I 35
51 mi
·
55 min
·
I 35
5
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 35 Business
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
6
Turn right onto I 35 Business
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East 13th Street
7
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.5 mi from Washington, IA · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.5 miles from Washington, 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
$9.55 one way
$19.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.49 | $20.98 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.76 | $23.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.49 | $26.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.42 | $2.93 |
| Efficient EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.55 | $3.91 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Morning in Ames on Saturday
Local time
7:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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 10m 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 Washington, IA to Ames, IA covers 61.1 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, State Highway 3, East 13th 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 30.5 miles from Washington, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.55 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 Washington, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 1h 10m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 58.2 miles (I 35 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Between Washington, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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