Origin
Ames, IA
Afternoon in Ames on Friday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ames, IA to Sergeant Bluff, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 36m
Distance
180.8 mi
291 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 24m
★
6 AM
3h 36m
8 AM
4h 1m
10 AM
3h 45m
12 PM
3h 43m
3 PM
3h 46m
5 PM
4h 0m
8 PM
3h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Sergeant Bluff, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Ames, IA to Sergeant Bluff, IA covers 180.8 miles and takes about 3h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, I 35 Business, 210th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 136.4 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.03 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
90.4 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 136.4 mi | 2h 39m |
| I 35 Business | 29 mi | 31m |
| 210th Street | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Delaware Avenue | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| 13th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Bronson Blacktop | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Old Highway 141 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 136.4 mi, about 2h 39m
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
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Sergeant Bluff, 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
136 mi
·
2 hr 39 min
·
US 20
5
Turn left onto K42
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Delaware Avenue
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on K42
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Maple Street
7
Continue on K42
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Front Street
8
Continue on D38; K42
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Bronson Blacktop
9
Turn right onto D25; D38
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Old Highway 141
10
Turn left onto D38
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
210th Street
11
Continue on CR D38
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street
12
Turn right onto South Lewis Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Lewis Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto 4th Street
392 ft
·
17 sec
·
4th Street
14
Arrive at destination
4th Street
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 90.4 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.4 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 40 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.4 miles or 1h 46m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sergeant Bluff, 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 180.8 miles and 3h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 136.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 90.4 miles from Ames, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 136.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 180.5 — 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
6
168.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 17m in
|
K42 / Delaware Avenue
Turn left onto K42 / Delaware Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
174.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 26m in
|
D25; D38 / Old Highway 141
Turn right onto D25; D38 / Old Highway 141
Navigation decision point
5
180.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 35m in
|
South Lewis Boulevard
Turn right onto South Lewis Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.03 one way
$56.06 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $30.74 | $61.47 |
| premium | $4.93 | $35.08 | $70.16 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $39.85 | $79.71 |
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: 63.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.2 | 0 | $18.98 | $8.68 |
| Efficient EV | 45.2 | 0 | $15.82 | $7.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.3 | 0 | $25.31 | $11.57 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Sergeant Bluff, IA
Afternoon in Sergeant Bluff on Friday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 36m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
180.8 mi in 3h 36m, mostly highway — 136.4 mi of that is on US 20.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 136.4 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35 Business. 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 Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ames, IA to Sergeant Bluff, IA is easy. At 3h 36m with 92% 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 168.3 miles (K42 / Delaware Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,381 ft
944 ft
Total Climb
603 ft
Total Descent
455 ft
Highest Point
1,381 ft
~155 mi in
Elevation Range
437 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Ames, IA
Full guide →Founded 1864
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...
- • Ames City Hall — United States historic place
Arriving in Sergeant Bluff, IA
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 180.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 136.4 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 168.3 miles (K42 / Delaware Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Sergeant Bluff, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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