Origin
Alton, IA
Morning in Alton on Friday
Local time
8:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alton, IA to Ames, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 54m
Distance
192.2 mi
309 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 42m
★
6 AM
3h 54m
8 AM
4h 20m
10 AM
4h 3m
12 PM
4h 1m
3 PM
4h 5m
5 PM
4h 19m
8 PM
3h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alton, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Alton, IA to Ames, IA covers 192.2 miles and takes about 3h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 220th Street, I 35, Highway 20 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 $30.05 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
96.1 miles from Alton, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 54m. Total distance: 192.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from Alton, IA to Ames, IA covers 192.2 miles and takes about 3h 54m, 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 20 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 10th Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Alton, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 3h 54m with 37% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (IA 10 / State Highway 10): 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.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 10th Street
Turn left onto West 10th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Division Street
Turn left onto Division Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
IA 10 / State Highway 10
At end of road, turn right onto IA 10 / State Highway 10
Navigation decision point
4
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
L14 / Kiwi Avenue
Turn right onto L14 / Kiwi Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
39.8 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
US 20 / Highway 20
Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 93.4 mi | 1h 47m |
| I 35 | 28.1 mi | 30m |
| Highway 20 | 19 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 140 | 15.1 mi | 20m |
| United States Highway 20 | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| County Road L14 | 7 mi | 9m |
| Lee Avenue | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Kiwi Avenue | 5 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 93.4 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alton, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on this road
112 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto West 10th Street
156 ft
·
8 sec
·
West 10th Street
3
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
3rd Avenue
4
Turn left onto Division Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Division Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto IA 10
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
State Highway 10
6
Continue on IA 10
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
460th Street
7
Turn right onto L14
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Kiwi Avenue
8
Continue on L14
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road L14
9
Continue on IA 140
15 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 140
10
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
320th Street
11
Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Shamrock Avenue
12
Continue on L21
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Lee Avenue
13
Turn left onto US 20
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
United States Highway 20
15
Continue on US 20
93 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
220th Street
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
17
Merge onto I 35
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 35
18
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 35 Business
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
19
Turn right onto I 35 Business
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East 13th Street
20
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 96.1 miles from Alton, IA, or about 2h 2m 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 42 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.1 miles or 2h 2m 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 13m
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 Alton, 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 Alton, IA
This is one driving day of about 192.2 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Alton, 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 96.1 mi from Alton, IA · 2h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 96.1 miles from Alton, 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
$30.05 one way
$60.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.99 | $65.98 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.99 | $73.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.44 | $84.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.7 | 0 | $20.18 | $9.23 |
| Efficient EV | 48.1 | 0 | $16.82 | $7.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.9 | 0 | $26.91 | $12.30 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Morning in Ames on Friday
Local time
8:03 AM
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
23 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
3h 54m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alton, IA to Ames, IA covers 192.2 miles and takes about 3h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 220th Street, I 35, Highway 20. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 96.1 miles from Alton, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.05 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Alton, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 3h 54m with 37% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (IA 10 / State Highway 10): Navigation decision point.
The route from Alton, IA to Ames, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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