Ames to St. Louis: Road Trip Guide & Distance

296.4 miles 477 km · straight line
370.5 miles estimated 596.3 km · driving distance
7h 27min estimated drive time
$36 - $44 estimated fuel cost
~1h 6min flight time
141° SE bearing direction

How far is Ames from St. Louis?

The distance from Ames to St. Louis is 296.4 miles (477 km) as the crow flies. St. Louis is located SE of Ames. By car, the driving distance is approximately 370.5 miles, taking about 7h 27min. A direct flight would take roughly 1h 6min. Both are located in United States — Ames in Iowa and St. Louis in Missouri.

This is a solid day of driving. Be sure to take breaks every 2-3 hours to avoid driver fatigue, and plan your meals ahead of time. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility.

Coordinates come from public place data for Ames and St. Louis. 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.

How to Get from Ames to St. Louis

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 7h 27min $36 - $44 Flexible stops
Fly ~1h 6min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~8h 56min $30–$56* Budget
Train ~7h 5min $44–$130* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Ames & St. Louis

Quick Facts

Ames
42.03°N, 93.62°W
America/Chicago
287m elevation
St. Louis
38.63°N, 90.20°W
America/Chicago
142m elevation
Explore more routes from St. Louis

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 99 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 25 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 84 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients