Ames to Rock Valley is 218.3 miles and takes about 4h 37m via US 20, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Iowa, traversing the heart of the Midwest. Expect a straightforward trip with minimal complexity. It's a solid choice for a single-day drive, making it convenient for quick travel between these two points.
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
109.2 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m 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
Jackson Avenue
8 mi
11m
400th Street
7.5 mi
10m
Armstrong Avenue
6 mi
8m
Log Avenue
5.8 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 92.8 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~974 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,494
Quietest
2 AM
~96 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 99 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 Rock Valley, 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
5.8 mi·7 min·Log Avenue
24
Continue on L22
0.3 mi·36 sec·County Road S
25
Turn left onto Fir Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Fir Street
26
Continue on 6th Avenue South
0.1 mi·14 sec·6th Avenue South
27
Continue on Cedar Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Cedar Street
28
Keep slight left at fork onto Birch Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Birch Street
29
Continue on B40
7.5 mi·10 min·400th Street
30
Turn right onto CR K64
8.0 mi·11 min·Jackson Avenue
31
Turn left onto US 18
2.9 mi·4 min·320th Street
32
Continue on US 18
1.0 mi·1 min·Black Forest Road
33
Continue on US 18
2.0 mi·2 min·320th Street
34
Continue on US 18; US 75
1.0 mi·1 min·US 18; US 75
Use the left lane.
35
Turn left onto US 18
5.2 mi·7 min·310th Street
Use the left lane.
36
Continue on US 18
0.8 mi·1 min·10th Street
37
Turn right onto CR K30
0.4 mi·1 min·16th Avenue
38
Turn left onto 15th Street
28 ft·1 sec·15th Street
39
Arrive at destination
15th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 37m estimated drive time, departing Ames in the morning will allow you to reach Rock Valley with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $35, this trip is budget-friendly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 92.8-mile stretch on US 20, as services can be spread out in rural areas. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your timing as needed.
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 109.2 miles from Ames, IA, or about 2h 7m 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 48 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.2 miles or 2h 7m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rock Valley, 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 218.3 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 212 — 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
5
189 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|Fir Street
Turn left onto Fir Street
Navigation decision point
5
189.5 mi into trip|~3h 56m in|Birch Street
Keep slight left at fork onto Birch Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
212 mi into trip|~4h 27m in|US 18 / 310th Street
Turn left onto US 18 / 310th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.41 one way
$72.83 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$39.58
$79.16
premium
$5.26
$45.20
$90.40
diesel
$6.18
$53.11
$106.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.5
0
$22.92
$10.48
Efficient EV
54.6
0
$19.10
$8.73
EV Truck/SUV
87.3
1
$30.56
$13.97
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Ames, IA
Morning
in Ames on Monday
Local time
8:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
S 9 to 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Rock Valley, IA
Morning
in Rock Valley on Monday
Local time
8:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive 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
1 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
4h 37m 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 drive is predominantly highway cruising, with 62% of the 218.3 miles on faster roads. You'll encounter 92.8 miles of continuous travel on US 20, which is your longest stretch without significant changes in road type. After the highway segments, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 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 37m drive. You will face about 15 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 189 miles (Fir Street): Navigation decision point.
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 189 miles (Fir Street): 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 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Rock Valley, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
