Origin
George, IA
Morning in George on Wednesday
Local time
7:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from George, IA to Ames, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 33m
Distance
215 mi
346 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 20m
★
6 AM
4h 33m
8 AM
5h 0m
10 AM
4h 43m
12 PM
4h 40m
3 PM
4h 44m
5 PM
4h 59m
8 PM
4h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
George, IA
Diego F. Parra
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from George, IA to Ames, IA covers 215 miles and takes about 4h 33m 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, 20th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 92.4 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.61 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
107.5 miles from George, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 33m drive with frequent turns across 215 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 37 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 92.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Boiler Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 33m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Boiler Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles (US 18; CR L14 / 320th Street): Navigation decision point; at 19 miles (CR B20 / West 16th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Boiler Avenue
Turn left onto East Boiler Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
11 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
US 18; CR L14 / 320th Street
Turn left onto US 18; CR L14 / 320th Street
Navigation decision point
5
19 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
CR B20 / West 16th Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR B20 / West 16th Street
Navigation decision point
6
27.2 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
L22 / Log Avenue
Turn left onto L22 / Log Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
37.8 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
IA 143 / Nettle Avenue
Turn right onto IA 143 / Nettle Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 92.4 mi | 1h 46m |
| I 35 | 28.1 mi | 30m |
| 20th Avenue | 9.2 mi | 12m |
| State Highway 3 | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| IA 60 Business | 7.5 mi | 9m |
| 320th Street | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| Armstrong Avenue | 6 mi | 8m |
| D Avenue | 5.7 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 92.4 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between George, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on North Main Street
377 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left onto East Boiler Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Boiler Avenue
3
Turn right onto South Virginia Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Virginia Street
4
Continue on L14
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
L14
5
Continue on CR L14
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Kennedy Avenue
6
Continue on CR L14
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Colfax Street
7
Turn left onto US 18; CR L14
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
320th Street
8
Continue on US 18
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
West Park Street
9
Continue on US 18
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
320th Street
10
Turn right onto Western Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Western Avenue
11
At end of road, turn left onto CR B20
360 ft
·
10 sec
·
West 16th Street
12
Turn right onto IA 60 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Avenue
13
Take the ramp onto IA 60 Business
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
IA 60 Business
14
Turn left onto L22
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Log Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto IA 10
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
460th Street
16
Continue on IA 10
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Garfield Street
17
Continue on IA 10
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
460th Street
18
Turn right onto IA 143
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Nettle Avenue
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on IA 143
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
D Avenue
20
Continue on IA 143
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Ames Avenue
21
Turn left onto IA 3
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
490th Street
22
Continue on IA 3
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 3
23
Continue on IA 3
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
500th Street
24
Turn straight onto IA 3
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 3
25
Turn left onto IA 3
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
530th Street
26
Turn right onto IA 7
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
V Avenue
27
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Street
28
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 7
29
Continue on IA 7
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 7
30
Turn right onto 20th Avenue
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
20th Avenue
31
Continue on CR M27
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Armstrong Avenue
32
At end of road, turn left onto US 20
92 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
220th Street
33
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
34
Merge onto I 35
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 35
35
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 35 Business
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
36
Turn right onto I 35 Business
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East 13th Street
37
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 107.5 miles from George, IA, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.4 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 80 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.5 miles or 2h 28m 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 47m
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 George, 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 George, IA
This is one driving day of about 215 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from George, 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 92.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 107.5 mi from George, IA · 2h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 107.5 miles from George, 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 92.4 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
$33.61 one way
$67.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
75 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $36.91 | $73.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.37 | $82.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.47 | $94.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.5 | 0 | $22.58 | $10.32 |
| Efficient EV | 53.8 | 0 | $18.81 | $8.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86 | 1 | $30.10 | $13.76 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Wednesday
Local time
7:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Denison, IA
108 mi in
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
5 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
4h 33m 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 George, IA to Ames, IA covers 215 miles and takes about 4h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 220th Street, I 35, 20th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 107.5 miles from George, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.61 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 is a straightforward 4h 33m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Boiler Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles (US 18; CR L14 / 320th Street): Navigation decision point; at 19 miles (CR B20 / West 16th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from George, IA to Ames, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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