This 107.6-mile drive from Ames to Algona, Iowa, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 17 minutes. With 96% of the route on highways, it's a focused drive perfect for a single day trip. You'll be traveling through the heart of the Midwest, staying within Iowa for the entire excursion. The estimated fuel cost is around $16, making it an economical option. This route is ideal for those looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive planning, and it doesn't require an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.8 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 169
43.5 mi
1h 1m
US 20
31.2 mi
35m
I 35 Business
29 mi
31m
13th Street
2.7 mi
5m
East McGregor Street
0.3 mi
<1m
South Jones Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Jones Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 169
— 43.5 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Algona, 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
31 mi·35 min·US 20
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward US 169
6
Turn right onto US 169
44 mi·1 hr 1 min·US 169
7
Turn left onto East McGregor Street
0.3 mi·34 sec·East McGregor Street
8
Turn right onto South Jones Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·South Jones Street
9
Arrive at destination
US 169
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2-hour and 17-minute duration for this 107.6-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility. There are no designated stops in the data, so consider a brief break around the halfway point or when you feel the need, perhaps during the 43.5-mile stretch on US 169. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, you likely won't need to worry too much about refueling stops, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Leaving Ames in the morning or early afternoon should allow you to arrive in Algona with ample time to spare.
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 53.8 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.5 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 24 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.8 miles or 1h 3m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Algona, 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 107.6 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Ames, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 169 for about 43.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 107.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
63.1 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward US 169
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 169
4
107 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|East McGregor Street
Turn left onto East McGregor Street
Navigation decision point
4
107.4 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|South Jones Street
Turn right onto South Jones Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.82 one way
$33.64 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.47
$36.94
premium
$4.89
$20.71
$41.41
diesel
$5.61
$23.76
$47.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.3
0
$11.30
$5.16
Efficient EV
26.9
0
$9.42
$4.30
EV Truck/SUV
43
0
$15.06
$6.89
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ames, IA
Night
in Ames on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Algona, IA
Night
in Algona on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
22 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 17m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 107.6-mile trip, with 96% of your travel on main roads like US 169, US 20, and I 35 Business. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 43.5 miles on US 169, offering a solid period of consistent driving. While primarily highway, the use of business routes might introduce slightly more varied scenery or local traffic compared to pure interstate travel. Overall, the drive's personality is one of efficiency and steady progress through Iowa's landscape.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.5 mi on US 169.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and US 20. 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 Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ames, IA to Algona, IA is easy. At 2h 17m with 96% 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 63.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Ames is a pleasant college town in Central Iowa, sitting astride the Skunk River roughly 30 miles north of Des Moines. Life in Ames follows the ebb and flow of the academic year at Iowa State University, which is the city's primary draw.
The longest stretch is about 43.5 miles on US 169. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 63.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Algona, IA before heading back.
