Origin
Sioux City, IA
Late night in Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
1:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sioux City, 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
3h 34m
Distance
178.2 mi
287 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 22m
★
6 AM
3h 34m
8 AM
3h 59m
10 AM
3h 43m
12 PM
3h 41m
3 PM
3h 44m
5 PM
3h 58m
8 PM
3h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sioux City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sioux City, IA to Ames, IA covers 178.2 miles and takes about 3h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 220th Street, Highway 20, I 35 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 $27.86 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
89.1 miles from Sioux City, 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 34m. Total distance: 178.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
The drive from Sioux City, IA to Ames, IA covers 178.2 miles and takes about 3h 34m, 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 16 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,389 ft
944 ft
Total Climb
306 ft
Total Descent
562 ft
Highest Point
1,389 ft
~25.5 mi in
Elevation Range
445 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 9th Street.
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 3h 34m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (7th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Court Street
Turn right onto Court Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
7th Street
Turn left onto 7th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Iowa Street
Turn right onto Iowa Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 20 Business / Gordon Drive
Turn left onto US 20 Business / Gordon Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 93.4 mi | 1h 47m |
| Highway 20 | 39.4 mi | 47m |
| I 35 | 28.1 mi | 30m |
| United States Highway 20 | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| Gordon Drive | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| East 13th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| 6th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Fairmount Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 93.4 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux City, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on this road
115 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
9th Street
3
Turn right onto Court Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Court Street
4
Turn left onto 7th Street
399 ft
·
19 sec
·
7th Street
5
Turn right onto Iowa Street
423 ft
·
23 sec
·
Iowa Street
6
Turn left onto 6th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Street
7
Continue on Fairmount Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Fairmount Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 20 Business
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Gordon Drive
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 20
39 mi
·
47 min
·
Highway 20
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
United States Highway 20
11
Continue on US 20
93 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
220th Street
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
13
Merge onto I 35
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 35
14
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 35 Business
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
15
Turn right onto I 35 Business
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East 13th Street
16
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 89.1 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 1h 50m 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 39 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.1 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 2h 56m
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 Sioux City, 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 Sioux City, IA
This is one driving day of about 178.2 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Sioux City, 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 89.1 mi from Sioux City, IA · 1h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
89 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 89.1 miles from Sioux City, 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
$27.86 one way
$55.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $30.59 | $61.18 |
| premium | $4.89 | $34.29 | $68.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.34 | $78.69 |
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: 62.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.5 | 0 | $18.71 | $8.55 |
| Efficient EV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.59 | $7.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.3 | 0 | $24.95 | $11.40 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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
1:02 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
21 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 34m 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 Sioux City, IA to Ames, IA covers 178.2 miles and takes about 3h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 220th Street, Highway 20, I 35. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 89.1 miles from Sioux City, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.86 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.
This is a straightforward 3h 34m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (7th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Sioux City, IA to Ames, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 944 ft to 1,389 ft elevation with about 306 ft of total climbing.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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