Ames to Death Valley: Road Trip Guide & Distance

How far is Ames from Death Valley?

The distance from Ames to Death Valley is 1298.7 miles (2090.1 km) as the crow flies. Death Valley is located W of Ames. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1558.5 miles, taking about 31h 21min. A direct flight would take roughly 3h 7min. Both are located in United States — Ames in Iowa and Death Valley in California.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Ames and Death Valley. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.