Origin
Moville, IA
Late night in Moville on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Moville, IA to Ames, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 9m
Distance
161 mi
259 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 58m
★
6 AM
3h 10m
8 AM
3h 33m
10 AM
3h 18m
12 PM
3h 15m
3 PM
3h 19m
5 PM
3h 32m
8 PM
3h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Moville, IA
Santiago Boada
Ames, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Moville to Ames is 161 miles and takes about 3 hours and 9 minutes via 220th Street and I-35, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across Iowa, staying within the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on well-maintained roads, making it a good option for a single-day excursion. You can expect a mixed driving experience, so plan for varying road conditions. The relatively short distance means you have flexibility in your departure time and can easily fit it into your schedule.
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
80.5 miles from Moville, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 93.4 mi | 1h 47m |
| I 35 | 28.1 mi | 30m |
| Highway 20 | 27.1 mi | 32m |
| United States Highway 20 | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| East 13th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| South 1st Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| I 35 Business | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Jones Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 93.4 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Moville, IA and Ames, IA.
1
Start on North 2nd Street
418 ft
·
18 sec
·
North 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Jones Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Jones Street
3
Turn left onto IA 140
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South 1st Street
4
Turn left onto US 20
27 mi
·
32 min
·
Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
United States Highway 20
6
Continue on US 20
93 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
220th Street
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
8
Merge onto I 35
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 35
9
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 35 Business
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
10
Turn right onto I 35 Business
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East 13th Street
11
Arrive at destination
I 35 Business
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day drive of just over 3 hours, you can leave anytime and still arrive with plenty of daylight. There's one recommended stop, likely a good place to break up the 93.4-mile stretch on 220th Street. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longer portion on 220th Street, as services might be more spaced out than on the interstate. The estimated fuel cost is around $25, so factor that into your budget. Enjoy the flexibility this shorter route provides; you can depart later in the morning if you prefer a more relaxed start.
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 80.5 miles from Moville, IA, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.4 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 35 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.5 miles or 1h 35m 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 35m
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 Moville, 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 Moville, IA
This is one driving day of about 161 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Moville, 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 93.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.5 miles from Moville, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.4 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 158.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Jones Street
Turn right onto Jones Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 140 / South 1st Street
Turn left onto IA 140 / South 1st Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 20 / Highway 20
Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
129.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
4
158.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 3m in
|
I 35 Business
Take the exit onto I 35 Business toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 Business: USDA Veterinary Labs
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.17 one way
$50.34 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $27.64 | $55.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $30.98 | $61.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.55 | $71.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.90 | $7.73 |
| Efficient EV | 40.3 | 0 | $14.09 | $6.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.4 | 0 | $22.54 | $10.30 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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
Ames, IA
Late night in Ames on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Somers, IA
81 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
2 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
3h 9m 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?
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with about 40% of it on highways. You'll encounter a substantial stretch of 93.4 miles on 220th Street, which will likely feel like a consistent, perhaps rural, two-lane road for a significant portion of your journey. This is followed by transitions onto I-35, providing a faster highway pace. The change in road types means you'll need to adjust your driving style, transitioning from potentially slower, more scenic country roads to higher-speed interstate travel as you progress toward Ames.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.4 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Jones Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Moville, IA to Ames, IA is easy. At 3h 9m with 40% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Jones Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (IA 140 / South 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving 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
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 9m. Total distance: 161 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.4 miles on 220th Street. 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 0.1 miles (Jones Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (IA 140 / South 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Ames, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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