Ames to Sun Valley: Road Trip Guide & Distance

How far is Ames from Sun Valley?

The distance from Ames to Sun Valley is 1053.3 miles (1695.2 km) as the crow flies. Sun Valley is located WNW of Ames. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1264 miles, taking about 25h 26min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 37min. Both are located in United States — Ames in Iowa and Sun Valley in Idaho.

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 Sun 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.