How far is Ames, IA from Boone, IA?

The driving distance from Ames, IA to Boone, IA is about 17.1 miles (27.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 13.5 miles (21.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 50m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
17.12 mi
00h 25m
Flight
13.47 mi
21.67 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ames.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
13.47 mi
Kilometers
21.67 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
17.12 mi
Kilometers
27.55 km
Drive Time
00h 25m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Boone
Sun, Apr 12, 7:46 AM CDT
Return by in Ames
Sun, Apr 12, 8:11 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ames
2026-04-12T07:21
Arrive Boone
Sun, Apr 12, 7:46 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:25 AM to 7:25 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Ames
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Luther
IA

Human settlement in Worth Township, Iowa, United States of America

From Ames
8.6 mi
00h 12m
To Boone
8.6 mi
00h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 to 22 mph SSW
Destination
74°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 to 22 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ames and Boone.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ames and Boone.

  1. 1

    Start on 13th Street

    36 m · 11 sec · 13th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Grand Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · Grand Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on South Grand Avenue

    1342 ft · 37 sec · South Grand Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto South 4th Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · South 4th Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto University Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 2 min · University Boulevard

  6. 6

    Take the ramp right toward US 30 west: Boone

    1728 ft · 42 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    8.3 mi · 10 min

  8. 8

    Turn slight right onto T Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · T Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn left onto 210th Street

    2.1 mi · 3 min · 210th Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Mamie Eisenhower Avenue

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Mamie Eisenhower Avenue

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Mamie Eisenhower Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ames and Boone.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
11 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
64.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 30 west
8.62 mi · 50%
Mamie Eisenhower Avenue
2.38 mi · 14%
210th Street
2.07 mi · 12%
T Avenue
1.23 mi · 7%
University Boulevard
1.07 mi · 6%
Grand Avenue
0.8 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

US 30 west

Merge slight left

8.29 mi · 00h 10m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 25m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.6 mi
13.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Luther
00h 12m from Ames
Leave By
7:40 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Ames and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Boone.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ames to Boone?

The road trip is about 17.1 miles (27.5 km) and usually takes 00h 25m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Luther is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8.6 miles from Ames and 8.6 miles from Boone.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 13.5 miles (21.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:40 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.60 one way or $5.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Ames and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Boone.

Stop Ideas Near Luther

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Luther, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Luther.

RAIL

Osceola

104 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

111 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ames and Boone. Straight-line distance: 13.47 mi (21.67 km).

Ames

#1 Ames

The most populous city in Story County, Iowa.

Population67,033
Coordinates42.0347100, -93.6199400
Altitude287
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Boone

City in Iowa, United States

Population12,407
Coordinates42.0597000, -93.8802300
Altitude346
CountryUnited States
Start: Ames (-93.61994, 42.03471)
End: Boone (-93.88023, 42.0597)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 28 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.69 gal
2.61 L · about $2.60
Round trip
$5.20
1.38 gal · 5.22 L
Estimated CO2
6.1 kg one way
Round trip: 12.3 kg / 27 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $2.60 $5.20
Mid-grade $4.25 $2.93 $5.87
Premium $4.65 $3.21 $6.42
Diesel $5.30 $3.66 $7.32

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Iowa · Apr 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Ames and Boone. The current time is 07:21:00.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.