Origin
Akron, IA
Night in Akron on Thursday
Local time
10:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Akron, IA to Ames, IA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
4h 15m
Distance
207.2 mi
333 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 2m
★
6 AM
4h 15m
8 AM
4h 41m
10 AM
4h 24m
12 PM
4h 22m
3 PM
4h 26m
5 PM
4h 40m
8 PM
4h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Akron, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Akron, IA to Ames, IA covers 207.2 miles and takes about 4h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 220th Street, Highway 20, I 35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93.4 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.39 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
103.6 miles from Akron, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 15m. Total distance: 207.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Akron, IA to Ames, IA covers 207.2 miles and takes about 4h 15m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
220th Street is the longest continuous segment at about 93.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Reed Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 207.2 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Reed Street): Navigation decision point; at 24 miles (IA 12 / Riverside Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Reed Street
Turn right onto Reed Street
Navigation decision point
5
24 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
IA 12 / Riverside Boulevard
Turn right onto IA 12 / Riverside Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
26.1 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the ramp toward I 29 South
Navigation decision point
Toward I 29 South
6
29.3 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
US 20 Business
Take the exit onto US 20 Business toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Downtown
4
29.7 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
US 20 Business / South Virginia Street
Turn left onto US 20 Business / South Virginia Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Akron, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
29.3 mi in
|
~42m
|
via US 20 Business
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 93.4 mi | 1h 47m |
| Highway 20 | 39.4 mi | 47m |
| I 35 | 28.1 mi | 30m |
| State Highway 12 | 16.2 mi | 22m |
| United States Highway 20 | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| State Highway 3 | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| Gordon Drive | 4.6 mi | 9m |
| I 29 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 93.4 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on North 2nd Street
54 ft
·
4 sec
·
North 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Reed Street
277 ft
·
13 sec
·
Reed Street
3
Turn left onto IA 12
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
State Highway 12
4
Continue on IA 3; IA 12
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 3
5
Continue on IA 12
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
State Highway 12
6
Continue on IA 12
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Portland Street
7
Continue on IA 12
15 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 12
8
Continue on IA 12
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Sioux River Road
9
Turn right onto IA 12
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Riverside Boulevard
Use the right lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 29 South
11
Merge onto I 29
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 29
12
Take the exit onto US 20 Business
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
US 20 Business
Toward Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto US 20 Business
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
South Virginia Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn right onto US 20 Business
4.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Gordon Drive
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on US 20
39 mi
·
47 min
·
Highway 20
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
United States Highway 20
17
Continue on US 20
93 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
220th Street
18
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
19
Merge onto I 35
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 35
20
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 35 Business
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
21
Turn right onto I 35 Business
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East 13th Street
22
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 103.6 miles from Akron, IA, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 46 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.6 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ames, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Akron, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Akron, IA
This is one driving day of about 207.2 miles and 4h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Akron, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on 220th Street for about 93.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 103.6 mi from Akron, IA · 2h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 103.6 miles from Akron, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.4 miles.
Arriving in Ames, IA
The final approach into Ames, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Ames, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.39 one way
$64.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $35.57 | $71.13 |
| premium | $4.89 | $39.87 | $79.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.75 | $91.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.2 | 0 | $21.76 | $9.95 |
| Efficient EV | 51.8 | 0 | $18.13 | $8.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.9 | 1 | $29.01 | $13.26 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Ames, IA
Night in Ames on Thursday
Local time
10:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
21 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 15m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Akron, IA to Ames, IA covers 207.2 miles and takes about 4h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 220th Street, Highway 20, I 35. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 103.6 miles from Akron, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.39 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 207.2 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Reed Street): Navigation decision point; at 24 miles (IA 12 / Riverside Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Akron, IA to Ames, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
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