Ames to George is 215.7 miles and takes about 4h 33m via US 20, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest region. You'll mostly be on highway, making for a straightforward drive. Given the relatively short distance and 1 recommended day, this is a very manageable trip that should be easy to complete within daylight hours. It's a good option for a quick connection between these two points in Iowa.
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
107.9 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
92.8 mi
1h 47m
I 35 Business
29 mi
31m
20th Avenue
9.2 mi
12m
State Highway 3
8.8 mi
12m
IA 60
7.1 mi
8m
320th Street
6.3 mi
8m
Armstrong Avenue
6 mi
8m
D Avenue
5.7 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 92.8 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~965 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,423
Quietest
2 AM
~93 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and George, 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
93 mi·1 hr 47 min·US 20
5
Turn right onto CR M27
6.0 mi·8 min·Armstrong Avenue
6
Continue on CR M27
9.2 mi·12 min·20th Avenue
7
Turn left onto IA 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 7
8
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi·2 min·State Highway 7
9
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi·2 min·1st Street
10
Continue on IA 7
1.9 mi·2 min·V Avenue
11
Turn left onto IA 3
0.2 mi·22 sec·State Highway 3
12
Turn straight onto IA 3
3.1 mi·4 min·530th Street
13
Turn right onto IA 3
4.5 mi·6 min·State Highway 3
14
Continue on IA 3
2.5 mi·3 min·500th Street
15
Continue on IA 3
4.2 mi·5 min·State Highway 3
16
Continue on IA 3
5.0 mi·7 min·490th Street
17
Turn right onto IA 143
1.3 mi·2 min·Ames Avenue
18
Continue on IA 143
5.7 mi·7 min·D Avenue
19
Continue on IA 143
5.0 mi·6 min·Nettle Avenue
20
Turn left onto IA 10
3.5 mi·4 min·460th Street
21
Continue on IA 10
0.5 mi·1 min·Garfield Street
22
Continue on IA 10
1.0 mi·1 min·460th Street
23
Turn right onto L22
5.5 mi·7 min·Log Avenue
24
Turn right onto IA 60
7.1 mi·8 min·IA 60
25
Take the exit onto IA 60 Business
0.3 mi·43 sec·IA 60 Business
Toward CR L26, IA 60 Business: 2nd Avenue
26
Turn left onto IA 60 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue
27
Turn left onto CR B20
360 ft·9 sec·West 16th Street
28
Turn right onto CR L26
1.0 mi·1 min·Western Avenue
29
At end of road, turn left onto US 18
0.3 mi·27 sec·320th Street
30
Continue on US 18
0.7 mi·58 sec·West Park Street
31
Continue on US 18
6.0 mi·8 min·320th Street
32
Turn right onto CR L14
0.5 mi·1 min·Colfax Street
33
Continue on CR L14
3.8 mi·5 min·Kennedy Avenue
34
Continue on L14
5.7 mi·8 min·L14
35
Continue on South Virginia Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Virginia Street
36
Turn left onto East Boiler Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·East Boiler Avenue
37
Turn right onto South Main Street
377 ft·16 sec·South Main Street
38
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 4.5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. You'll have plenty of time to stop once if needed, perhaps around the halfway mark. The fuel cost is estimated at $38, so check your tank before you leave Ames. Since the drive is less than 5 hours, you can easily complete it in one day without feeling rushed. Pay attention to the transition from highway to surface roads as you get closer to George; this is where your average speed will decrease.
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 107.9 miles from Ames, IA, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.8 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 47 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.9 miles or 2h 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 3h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near George, 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 215.7 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 92.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 195.6 — 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
124.7 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue
Turn right onto CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
165.9 mi into trip|~3h 22m in|IA 143 / Ames Avenue
Turn right onto IA 143 / Ames Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
195.6 mi into trip|~4h 2m in|IA 60 Business
Take the exit onto IA 60 Business toward CR L26, IA 60 Business: 2nd Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CR L26, IA 60 Business: 2nd Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.85 one way
$63.71 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$35.17
$70.33
premium
$4.72
$40.05
$80.10
diesel
$4.80
$40.73
$81.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.7
0
$22.65
$10.35
Efficient EV
53.9
0
$18.87
$8.63
EV Truck/SUV
86.3
1
$30.20
$13.80
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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Ames, IA
Late night
in Ames on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
NNE 7 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:26PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Destination
George, IA
Late night
in George on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
ENE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:26PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
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
2 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway, with 65% of the drive on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 92.8 miles on US 20 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a good amount of rural cruising as you head west. The highway portion will likely feel more direct, while the latter part of the drive will involve more local traffic and potentially more intersections as you approach your destination.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.8 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35 Business. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 35 Business.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 33m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 124.7 miles (CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,480 ft944 ft
Total Climb
718 ft
Total Descent
277 ft
Highest Point
1,480 ft
~169.5 mi in
Elevation Range
536 ft
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 George, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Cr L26 along the way.
Cr L26
195.6 mi in|~4h 2m|via IA 60 Business
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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.
Top landmarks
•Catt Hall — building on Iowa State University's campus, U.S.
•Food Sciences Building — historic building on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, United S...
The longest stretch is about 92.8 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 124.7 miles (CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at George, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
