Hull, IA to Ames, IA is 208.3 miles and takes about 4h 22m via 220th Street and I 35, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, making it a good option for those who prefer a more relaxed pace over highway speed. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion.
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
104.2 miles from Hull, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
92.4 mi
1h 46m
I 35
28.1 mi
30m
20th Avenue
9.2 mi
12m
State Highway 3
8.6 mi
11m
Jackson Avenue
8 mi
11m
400th Street
7.5 mi
10m
Armstrong Avenue
6 mi
8m
Log Avenue
5.8 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 92.4 mi, about 1h 46m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Hull, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 18
0.8 mi·1 min·Black Forest Road
3
Continue on US 18
2.9 mi·4 min·320th Street
4
Turn right onto CR K64
8.0 mi·11 min·Jackson Avenue
5
Turn left onto B40
7.5 mi·10 min·400th Street
6
Continue on Birch Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Birch Street
7
Continue on Cedar Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Cedar Street
8
Continue on 6th Avenue South
0.1 mi·15 sec·6th Avenue South
9
Turn right onto Fir Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·Fir Street
10
Turn right onto L22
0.3 mi·28 sec·County Road S
11
Continue on L22
5.8 mi·8 min·Log Avenue
12
Turn left onto IA 10
1.0 mi·1 min·460th Street
13
Continue on IA 10
0.5 mi·1 min·Garfield Street
14
Continue on IA 10
3.5 mi·4 min·460th Street
15
Turn right onto IA 143
5.0 mi·6 min·Nettle Avenue
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on IA 143
5.7 mi·7 min·D Avenue
17
Continue on IA 143
1.3 mi·2 min·Ames Avenue
18
Turn left onto IA 3
5.0 mi·6 min·490th Street
19
Continue on IA 3
4.2 mi·5 min·State Highway 3
20
Continue on IA 3
2.5 mi·3 min·500th Street
21
Turn straight onto IA 3
4.4 mi·6 min·State Highway 3
22
Turn left onto IA 3
3.4 mi·4 min·530th Street
23
Turn right onto IA 7
2.0 mi·2 min·V Avenue
24
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi·2 min·1st Street
25
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi·2 min·State Highway 7
26
Continue on IA 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 7
27
Turn right onto 20th Avenue
9.2 mi·12 min·20th Avenue
28
Continue on CR M27
6.0 mi·8 min·Armstrong Avenue
29
At end of road, turn left onto US 20
92 mi·1 hr 46 min·220th Street
30
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
31
Merge onto I 35
28 mi·30 min·I 35
32
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
0.4 mi·52 sec·I 35 Business
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
33
Turn right onto I 35 Business
2.4 mi·4 min·East 13th Street
34
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 22m estimated drive time, this route is easily completed in a single day. Departing in the morning will give you ample time to reach Ames without feeling rushed. While there's only one suggested stop, consider breaking up the drive on 220th Street if you prefer more frequent pauses. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading onto the longer surface road sections, as stations may be less frequent than on the interstate. The relatively short distance offers flexibility if you encounter unexpected delays.
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 104.2 miles from Hull, IA, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.4 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 46 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.2 miles or 2h 21m 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 38m
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 Hull, 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 Hull, IA
This is one driving day of about 208.3 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Hull, 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 92.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 43.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 18 / Black Forest Road
Turn left onto US 18 / Black Forest Road
Navigation decision point
4
19.9 mi into trip|~28m in|Fir Street
Turn right onto Fir Street
Navigation decision point
5
20 mi into trip|~28m in|L22 / County Road S
Turn right onto L22 / County Road S
Navigation decision point
6
31.1 mi into trip|~44m in|IA 143 / Nettle Avenue
Turn right onto IA 143 / Nettle Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
43.1 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|IA 3 / 490th Street
Turn left onto IA 3 / 490th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.75 one way
$69.49 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$37.76
$75.53
premium
$5.26
$43.13
$86.26
diesel
$6.18
$50.67
$101.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.5
0
$21.87
$10.00
Efficient EV
52.1
0
$18.23
$8.33
EV Truck/SUV
83.3
1
$29.16
$13.33
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Hull, IA
Morning
in Hull on Sunday
Local time
8:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
S 15 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ames, IA
Morning
in Ames on Sunday
Local time
8:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
S 9 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
4 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 22m 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 features a low highway share, with only 19% of the drive on interstates. You'll spend the majority of your time on surface roads, including a significant stretch of 92.4 miles on 220th Street. The longest continuous highway segment is on I 35. Be prepared for more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you transition from the interstate to local roads.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.4 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 18 / Black Forest Road.
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 22m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 18 / Black Forest Road): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles (Fir Street): Navigation decision point; at 20 miles (L22 / County Road S): 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 92.4 miles on 220th Street. 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 0.2 miles (US 18 / Black Forest Road): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles (Fir Street): Navigation decision point; at 20 miles (L22 / County Road S): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Ames, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
