The drive from Ames, IA to Le Mars, IA covers 188.4 miles and takes about 3h 48m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, I 35 Business, State Highway 140 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 121.1 miles on US 20.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.45 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
94.2 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 48m. Total distance: 188.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 3h 48m highway drive covering 188.4 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and I 35 Business. The longest continuous stretch is about 121.1 miles on US 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 121.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35 Business. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 35 Business.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ames, IA to Le Mars, IA is easy. At 3h 48m with 88% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 35 Business): Navigation decision point; at 31.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 153 miles (L21 / Lee Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in|I 35 Business
Turn left onto I 35 Business toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
4
31.6 mi into trip|~36m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
4
153 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|L21 / Lee Avenue
Turn right onto L21 / Lee Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
160.4 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|C66 / 320th Street
Turn left onto C66 / 320th Street
Navigation decision point
4
162.4 mi into trip|~3h 11m in|IA 140 / State Highway 140
Turn right onto IA 140 / State Highway 140
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
121.1 mi
2h 21m
I 35 Business
29 mi
31m
State Highway 140
11 mi
15m
Lee Avenue
5.4 mi
7m
State Highway 3
4.7 mi
6m
County Road K64
4 mi
5m
C38
3 mi
4m
13th Street
2.7 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 121.1 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Le Mars, IA.
1
Start on I 35 Business
2.7 mi·5 min·13th Street
2
Turn left onto I 35 Business
29 mi·31 min·I 35 Business
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi·56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
4
Merge onto US 20
121 mi·2 hr 21 min·US 20
5
Turn right onto L21
5.4 mi·7 min·Lee Avenue
6
Continue on Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi·2 min·Shamrock Avenue
7
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi·2 min·320th Street
8
Turn right onto IA 140
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 140
9
Turn left onto CR C38
2.0 mi·2 min·CR C38
10
Continue on CR C38
2.0 mi·2 min·210th Street
11
Continue on CR C38
1.0 mi·1 min·CR C38
12
Turn right onto County Road K64
4.0 mi·5 min·County Road K64
13
Turn left onto IA 3
4.7 mi·6 min·State Highway 3
14
Continue on IA 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Lincoln Street Northeast
15
Continue on IA 3
0.1 mi·18 sec·5th Avenue Northeast
16
Turn right onto 1st Street Northeast
0.3 mi·58 sec·1st Street Northeast
17
Arrive at destination
1st Street Northeast
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 94.2 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.1 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 41 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.2 miles or 1h 50m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Le Mars, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ames, 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 Ames, IA
This is one driving day of about 188.4 miles and 3h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Ames, 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 US 20 for about 121.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94.2 mi from Ames, IA
· 1h 50m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.5
0
$19.78
$9.04
Efficient EV
47.1
0
$16.49
$7.54
EV Truck/SUV
75.4
0
$26.38
$12.06
Gas CO2
66 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ames, IA
Late night
in Ames on Friday
Local time
4:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Le Mars, IA
Late night
in Le Mars on Friday
Local time
4:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
20 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 48m 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 Ames, IA to Le Mars, IA covers 188.4 miles and takes about 3h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, I 35 Business, State Highway 140. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 94.2 miles from Ames, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.45 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 Ames, IA to Le Mars, IA is easy. At 3h 48m with 88% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 35 Business): Navigation decision point; at 31.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 153 miles (L21 / Lee Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Ames, IA to Le Mars, 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.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
