How far is New Hampton, IA from Ames, IA?

Fastest route

Here are some tips and directions for your trip from New Hampton, Iowa to Ames, Iowa. The distance is approximately 131 miles (211 kilometers), and the estimated travel time is 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Directions

  1. ๐Ÿš— Head south on S Linn Ave toward W Spring St.
  2. ๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ Take IA-346 W/Hiawatha Pioneer Trl to 280th St in Nashua.
  3. ๐Ÿšฆ Turn left at the 1st cross street onto US-18 E/US-63 S.
  4. ๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ Take exit 196 for US-18 E/IA-346 W toward Fredericksburg/Nashua.
  5. ๐Ÿšฆ Turn right onto IA-346 W/Hiawatha Pioneer Trl.
  6. ๐Ÿš— Get on I-35 S in Franklin County from 150th St and 190th St.
  7. ๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ Continue straight onto 280th St, then turn left onto S Grand Ave.
  8. ๐Ÿš— Turn left onto Packard Ave, and then left again to merge onto I-35 S toward Des Moines.
  9. ๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ Follow I-35 S to 6th St in Ames.
  10. ๐Ÿšฆ Take exit 113 for 13th St toward USDA Veterinary Labs.
  11. ๐Ÿš— Turn right onto E 13th St, and continue straight to stay on E 13th St.
  12. ๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ Continue on 6th St until you reach your destination.

Tips & Suggestions

  • ๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ Plan for a few rest stops along the way to stretch your legs and stay refreshed.
  • โ›ฝ Ensure your vehicle has enough fuel for the journey.
  • ๐Ÿš— Observe speed limits and traffic regulations for a safe trip.
  • ๐Ÿšง Check for any road closures or construction updates before starting your journey.
  • ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Pack some snacks and drinks for the road to avoid hunger during the trip.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Keep your phone charged and have a car charger handy for navigation purposes.
  • ๐Ÿงญ Consider using a GPS or navigation app to stay on the right route.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
138.89 mi
02h 13m
Flight
96.97 mi
156.06 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from New Hampton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
96.97 mi
Kilometers
156.06 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
138.89 mi
Kilometers
223.52 km
Drive Time
02h 13m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ames
Sat, Apr 18, 6:23 AM CDT
Return by in New Hampton
Sat, Apr 18, 8:37 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave New Hampton
2026-04-18T04:10
Arrive Ames
Sat, Apr 18, 6:23 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:13 AM to 12:13 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:04 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in New Hampton
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Thornton
IA

Human settlement in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States of America

From New Hampton
67.9 mi
01h 06m
To Ames
71 mi
01h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
44ยฐF
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
18 to 23 mph NW
Destination
49ยฐF
Saturday

Chance Rain And Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
21 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between New Hampton and Ames.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New Hampton and Ames.

  1. 1

    Start on South Linn Avenue

    16 m ยท 8 sec ยท South Linn Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.1 km ยท 1 min ยท West Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on 210th Street

    1801 ft ยท 39 sec ยท 210th Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Kenwood Avenue

    1.1 km ยท 1 min ยท Kenwood Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto 200th Street

    11 mi ยท 15 min ยท 200th Street

  6. 6

    Continue on 200th Avenue

    5 mi ยท 7 min ยท 200th Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on 5th Avenue

    1761 ft ยท 50 sec ยท 5th Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn straight onto 4th Avenue

    1 km ยท 2 min ยท 4th Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on Brantingham Street

    759 ft ยท 26 sec ยท Brantingham Street

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Clark Street

    1319 ft ยท 34 sec ยท Clark Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    1198 ft ยท 39 sec ยท North Main Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Gilbert Street

    2.5 mi ยท 5 min ยท Gilbert Street

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto 185th Street

    862 ft ยท 14 sec ยท 185th Street

  14. 14

    Take the ramp right

    1685 ft ยท 41 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    32.9 mi ยท 38 min ยท Avenue of the Saints

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight left toward I 35 South: Des Moines

    1.4 km ยท 1 min

  17. 17

    Continue on I 35 South: Des Moines

    2643 ft ยท 32 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    76.3 mi ยท 1 hr 22 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs

    2063 ft ยท 51 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto East 13th Street

    2.4 mi ยท 5 min ยท East 13th Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m ยท 1 sec ยท 13th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between New Hampton and Ames.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
21 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 35 South
77.7 mi ยท 56%
Avenue of the Saints
32.9 mi ยท 24%
200th Street
11 mi ยท 8%
200th Avenue
5.02 mi ยท 4%
Gilbert Street
2.52 mi ยท 2%
East 13th Street
2.44 mi ยท 2%
Longest Stretch

I 35 South

Merge slight left

76.3 mi ยท 01h 22m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 13m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.9 mi
97 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thornton
01h 06m from New Hampton
Leave By
2:04 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers leaving New Hampton and Chance Rain And Snow Showers near Ames.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from New Hampton to Ames?

The road trip is about 138.9 miles (223.5 km) and usually takes 02h 13m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Thornton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 67.9 miles from New Hampton and 71 miles from Ames.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 97 miles (156.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:04 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.48 one way or $36.96 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 43.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers around New Hampton and Chance Rain And Snow Showers near Ames.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between New Hampton and Ames. Straight-line distance: 96.97 mi (156.06 km).

New Hampton

#1 New Hampton

City in Iowa

Population3,382
Coordinates43.0591400, -92.3176800
Altitude353
CountryUnited States
Ames

#2 Ames

The most populous city in Story County, Iowa.

Population67,033
Coordinates42.0347100, -93.6199400
Altitude287
CountryUnited States
Start: South Linn Avenue (-92.317841, 43.059139)
End: 13th Street (-93.619967, 42.034517)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 224 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.9 gal
18.55 L ยท about $18.48
Round trip
$36.96
9.8 gal ยท 37.1 L
Estimated CO2
43.5 kg one way
Round trip: 87.1 kg / 192 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $18.48 $36.96
Mid-grade $4.25 $20.84 $41.68
Premium $4.65 $22.80 $45.61
Diesel $5.30 $25.99 $51.98

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Iowa ยท Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between New Hampton and Ames. The current time is 04:10:23.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh โ€” stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.