The Ultimate Guide to Driving from Ames to Iowa City

Are you planning a road trip through Iowa and looking for the best route to take from Ames to Iowa City? Look no further! In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the fastest and slowest routes, the distances involved, and the time it takes to drive based on the traffic patterns.

Fastest Route

If time is of the essence and you’re looking for the quickest way to get from Ames to Iowa City, taking the I-80 E route is your best bet. This route covers a distance of approximately 107 miles and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to drive with normal traffic conditions.

During peak traffic times, it can take around 1 hour and 45 minutes to make the same journey, so it’s important to plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. On the other hand, if you can travel during off-peak hours, you may cut down the trip by 10-15 minutes.

Scenic Route

If you’re not in a hurry and want to take a more scenic route with beautiful scenery along the way, then you may want to consider taking US-30 E. It’s a 120-mile journey that takes around 2 hours to complete with normal traffic conditions.

While this route may take longer, it provides picturesque views of the countryside and small towns in Iowa, making it a great road trip option to enjoy with friends and family. During peak traffic hours on US-30 E, it may take up to 2 hours and 10 minutes to cover the distance, hence planning your journey ahead is essential.

Other Routes & Options

Besides the aforementioned routes, you have some alternative options. For instance, you could take IA-210 E or IA-330 E. Depending on your exact starting and ending points, these highways could provide shorter or longer travel times.

Additionally, if you’re looking to break up the journey with some pit stops, you could plan to visit some of the fantastic attractions along the way, such as Adventurland Park, Pammel State Park, and the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the driving distance and time it takes from Ames, IA to Iowa City, IA can vary depending on the route you choose and the times at which you travel. Nonetheless, with the information outlined in this post, you should now have a clearer idea of which option will suit you best and how long it will take to complete the journey. Drive safely, and have fun exploring Iowa!