Wellman, IA to Ames, IA is 138.7 miles and takes about 2h 46m via I 80 and I 35, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily travels through the Midwest, staying within Iowa. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a convenient option if you're looking for efficiency. You'll likely spend most of your time on the interstate, so don't expect many winding country roads. This route is ideal for a single-day journey, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.3 miles from Wellman, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 138.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the journey taking place on interstates. You'll experience a significant stretch of 77.5 miles on I 80, which means long, consistent stretches of driving. Expect to be on high-speed roads for the majority of your trip, with State Highway 22 offering a brief change of pace. The character of the drive is largely consistent, characterized by the efficiency of interstate travel rather than scenic detours. It’s designed for covering distance quickly and reliably.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 77.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 2nd 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 2h 46m 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 (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (9th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IA 22 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 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|2nd Street
Turn right onto 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|9th Avenue
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 22 / 6th Street
Turn left onto IA 22 / 6th Street
Navigation decision point
7
108.6 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Take the exit toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
6
110 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35 toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
77.5 mi
1h 23m
I 35
25.7 mi
28m
State Highway 22
12.8 mi
18m
M Avenue
11.9 mi
16m
State Highway 149
5.2 mi
7m
East 13th Street
2.7 mi
5m
Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
9th Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 77.5 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wellman, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on this road
135 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 2nd Street
165 ft·8 sec·2nd Street
3
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
0.3 mi·32 sec·9th Avenue
4
Turn left onto IA 22
0.3 mi·22 sec·6th Street
5
Continue on IA 22
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 22
6
Continue on IA 22
0.4 mi·36 sec·Main Street
7
Turn right onto IA 149
5.2 mi·7 min·State Highway 149
8
Continue on IA 149
12 mi·16 min·M Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
10
Merge onto I 80
77 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 80
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 137BToward I-35 north: MinneapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·42 sec·this road
Exit 137BToward I-35 north: Minneapolis
13
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·52 sec·this road
Exit 137BToward I-35 North: Minneapolis
14
Merge onto I 35
26 mi·28 min·I 35
Toward I 35 North: MinneapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
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
Since this is a relatively short drive of under 3 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will get you to Ames with ample daylight. With only one recommended stop and a manageable fuel cost of $21, you won't need extensive planning. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you approach the I 35 and I 80 interchange, as this can be a busy area. The longest continuous stretch on I 80 means you can settle in, but be sure to take advantage of any service areas during that time for fuel or a quick break.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.3 miles from Wellman, IA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.5 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 31 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.3 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 16m
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 Wellman, 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 Wellman, IA
This is one driving day of about 138.7 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Wellman, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 77.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.3 mi from Wellman, IA
· 1h 27m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.6
0
$14.56
$6.66
Efficient EV
34.7
0
$12.14
$5.55
EV Truck/SUV
55.5
0
$19.42
$8.88
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Wellman, IA
Morning
in Wellman on Saturday
Local time
8:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ames, IA
Morning
in Ames on Saturday
Local time
8:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Newton, IA
69 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
19 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 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 Wellman, IA to Ames, IA covers 138.7 miles and takes about 2h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 35, State Highway 22. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.3 miles from Wellman, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.59 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 46m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (9th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IA 22 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Wellman, IA to Ames, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
