Origin
Ames, IA
Morning in Ames on Saturday
Local time
7:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Hartley, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 44m
Distance
179.2 mi
288 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 32m
★
6 AM
3h 45m
8 AM
4h 10m
10 AM
3h 54m
12 PM
3h 51m
3 PM
3h 55m
5 PM
4h 9m
8 PM
3h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Hartley, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ames, IA to Hartley, IA covers 179.2 miles and takes about 3h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, US 71, I 35 Business for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 81.3 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.02 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
89.6 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 179.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 44m highway drive covering 179.2 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and US 71. The longest continuous stretch is about 81.3 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 16 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 81.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and US 71. 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 Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ames, IA to Hartley, IA is easy. At 3h 44m with 87% 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 113.2 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese 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
5
113.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m in
|
US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm...
5
113.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
|
US 71
Turn right onto US 71
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
158.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 15m in
|
360th Street
Turn left onto 360th Street
Navigation decision point
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 Ames, IA to Hartley, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Storm Lake along the way.
Storm Lake
113.2 mi in
|
~2h 11m
|
via US 71
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 81.3 mi | 1h 33m |
| US 71 | 45.6 mi | 1h 3m |
| I 35 Business | 29 mi | 31m |
| 320th Street | 12.5 mi | 17m |
| 180th Avenue | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| 360th Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| West 4th Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 81.3 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Hartley, 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
81 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
US 20
5
Take the exit onto US 71
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 71
Toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm Lake
6
Turn right onto US 71
45 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
US 71
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn left onto 360th Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
360th Street
8
Turn right onto 200th Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
200th Avenue
9
Continue on 32nd Avenue West
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
32nd Avenue West
10
Turn left onto West 4th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 4th Street
11
Continue on B24
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road B24
12
Turn right onto 180th Avenue
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
180th Avenue
13
Turn left onto US 18
12 mi
·
17 min
·
320th Street
14
Turn left onto North Central Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Central Avenue
15
Turn left onto 1st Street Southeast
26 ft
·
1 sec
·
1st Street Southeast
16
Arrive at destination
1st Street Southeast
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 89.6 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.3 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 39 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.6 miles or 1h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hartley, 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 179.2 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 81.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 89.6 mi from Ames, IA · 1h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 89.6 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81.3 miles.
Arriving in Hartley, IA
The final approach into Hartley, 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 Hartley, 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
$28.02 one way
$56.03 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $30.76 | $61.52 |
| premium | $4.89 | $34.49 | $68.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.57 | $79.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.8 | 0 | $18.82 | $8.60 |
| Efficient EV | 44.8 | 0 | $15.68 | $7.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.7 | 0 | $25.09 | $11.47 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Hartley, IA
Morning in Hartley on Saturday
Local time
7:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
24 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 44m 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 Hartley, IA covers 179.2 miles and takes about 3h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, US 71, I 35 Business. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 89.6 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 $28.02 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 Hartley, IA is easy. At 3h 44m with 87% 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 113.2 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Ames, IA to Hartley, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Storm Lake along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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