Lake City, IA to Ames, IA is 75.9 miles and takes about 1h 44m via local roads, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, traversing the familiar Midwest landscape. Expect a local, turn-heavy experience rather than highway cruising. It's a manageable trip, perfect for a single day without feeling rushed. Consider this route if you prefer a more intimate journey through smaller communities over interstate speeds.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38 miles from Lake City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
23.9 mi
30m
360th Street
21.8 mi
30m
U Avenue
11.2 mi
15m
230th Street
7.6 mi
8m
Indiana Avenue
4 mi
5m
5th Street
2 mi
3m
East Main Street
1.4 mi
2m
University Boulevard
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 23.9 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake City, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on North Center Street
45 ft·7 sec·North Center Street
2
Turn left onto IA 175
1.4 mi·2 min·East Main Street
3
Continue on IA 175
7.0 mi·9 min·360th Street
4
Continue on IA 4; IA 175
2.0 mi·3 min·5th Street
5
Continue on IA 4; IA 175
15 mi·20 min·360th Street
6
Turn right onto IA 144
4.0 mi·5 min·Indiana Avenue
7
Continue on IA 144
6.8 mi·9 min·U Avenue
8
Continue on IA 144
0.6 mi·1 min·Mc Intyre Street
9
Continue on IA 144
4.4 mi·5 min·U Avenue
10
Continue on IA 144
0.2 mi·25 sec·9th Street North
11
Turn left onto US 30
24 mi·30 min·220th Street
12
Continue on US 30
7.6 mi·8 min·230th Street
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Iowa State University
14
Turn left onto University Boulevard
1.2 mi·2 min·University Boulevard
15
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South 4th Street
16
Turn left onto South Grand Avenue
0.3 mi·39 sec·South Grand Avenue
17
Continue on I 35 Business; US 69
0.8 mi·2 min·Grand Avenue
18
Turn right onto I 35 Business
117 ft·3 sec·13th Street
19
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 44m duration, this is a straightforward same-day trip from Lake City to Ames. You can depart any time of day and still complete the drive comfortably. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps in one of the small towns you pass through. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling. Keep an eye on your GPS, as the frequent turns on local roads can be disorienting if you're not paying attention.
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 38 miles from Lake City, IA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.9 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 17 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38 miles or 53m 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 27m
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 Lake City, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lake City, IA
This is one driving day of about 75.9 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Lake City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on 220th Street for about 23.9 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 75.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 175 / East Main Street
Turn left onto IA 175 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
25.2 mi into trip|~35m in|IA 144 / Indiana Avenue
Turn right onto IA 144 / Indiana Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
41.2 mi into trip|~57m in|US 30 / 220th Street
Turn left onto US 30 / 220th Street
Navigation decision point
4
72.7 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward Iowa State University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Iowa State University
4
75.9 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|I 35 Business / 13th Street
Turn right onto I 35 Business / 13th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.87 one way
$23.73 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.03
$26.06
premium
$4.89
$14.61
$29.21
diesel
$5.61
$16.76
$33.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.8
0
$7.97
$3.64
Efficient EV
19
0
$6.64
$3.04
EV Truck/SUV
30.4
0
$10.63
$4.86
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Lake City, IA
Late night
in Lake City on Tuesday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ames, IA
Late night
in Ames on Tuesday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Ogden, IA
38 mi in
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
1h 44m 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?
This trip is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, with no highway mileage to speak of. You'll be navigating county roads like 220th Street, 360th Street, and U Avenue for the entire 75.9 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 23.9 miles, also on 220th Street. The road will likely feel varied, with frequent turns and changes in direction as you connect these local routes. Prepare for a driving experience that requires constant attention to navigation and road signs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.9 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 175 / East Main Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lake City, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 1h 44m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 175 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 25.2 miles (IA 144 / Indiana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 41.2 miles (US 30 / 220th 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 23.9 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 175 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 25.2 miles (IA 144 / Indiana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 41.2 miles (US 30 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ames, IA before heading back.
