Origin
Lake View, IA
Late night in Lake View on Saturday
Local time
1:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake View, IA to Ames, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 9m
Distance
94.4 mi
152 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 0m
★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 28m
10 AM
2h 16m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 17m
5 PM
2h 27m
8 PM
2h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake View, IA
Maria Borisenko
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake View, IA to Ames, IA covers 94.4 miles and takes about 2h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 220th Street, County Road N33, 230th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 44.4 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.76 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.
Midpoint
47.2 miles from Lake View, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 94.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (8%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 9m drive with frequent turns across 94.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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 44.4 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 5 miles in near US 71; IA 175 / Union Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 9m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles (US 71; IA 175 / Union Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles (120th Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.9 miles (US 71): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 71; IA 175 / Union Avenue
Turn right onto US 71; IA 175 / Union Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
13.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
120th Street
Turn left onto 120th Street
Navigation decision point
4
17.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 71
Turn right onto US 71
Navigation decision point
4
24 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
180th Street
Turn left onto 180th Street
Navigation decision point
4
25.9 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
Noble Avenue
Turn right onto Noble Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 44.4 mi | 58m |
| County Road N33 | 10.3 mi | 13m |
| 230th Street | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| Union Avenue | 7 mi | 9m |
| US 71 | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| 330th Street | 5 mi | 7m |
| 120th Street | 4 mi | 5m |
| Noble Avenue | 2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 44.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake View, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on IA 175
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
330th Street
2
Turn right onto US 71; IA 175
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Union Avenue
3
Continue on Union Avenue
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Union Avenue
4
Continue on Hawthorne Avenue
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Hawthorne Avenue
5
Turn left onto 120th Street
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
120th Street
6
Turn right onto US 71
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
US 71
7
Turn left onto 180th Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
180th Street
8
Continue on 30th Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
30th Street
9
Continue on 180th Street
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
180th Street
10
Turn right onto Noble Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Noble Avenue
11
Turn left onto US 30
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 30
12
Continue on US 30
10 mi
·
13 min
·
County Road N33
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 30
44 mi
·
58 min
·
220th Street
14
Continue on US 30
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
230th Street
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Iowa State University
16
Turn left onto University Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
University Boulevard
17
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 4th Street
18
Turn left onto South Grand Avenue
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Grand Avenue
19
Continue on I 35 Business; US 69
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Grand Avenue
20
Turn right onto I 35 Business
117 ft
·
3 sec
·
13th Street
21
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.2 miles from Lake View, IA, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.4 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 21 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.2 miles or 1h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 45m
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 Lake View, 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 Lake View, IA
This is one driving day of about 94.4 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Lake View, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on 220th Street for about 44.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.2 mi from Lake View, IA · 1h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47.2 miles from Lake View, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$14.76 one way
$29.52 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.20 | $32.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.17 | $36.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.84 | $41.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.91 | $4.53 |
| Efficient EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.26 | $3.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.8 | 0 | $13.22 | $6.04 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Late night in Ames on Saturday
Local time
1:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Centerville, IA
47 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
4 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
2h 9m 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 Lake View, IA to Ames, IA covers 94.4 miles and takes about 2h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 220th Street, County Road N33, 230th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.2 miles from Lake View, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.76 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 2h 9m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles (US 71; IA 175 / Union Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles (120th Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.9 miles (US 71): Navigation decision point.
The route from Lake View, IA to Ames, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Ames, IA
More from Lake View, IA
More trips to Ames, IA
Explore more options from Lake View, IA or browse trips ending in Ames, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.