Origin
Ankeny, IA
Late night in Ankeny on Tuesday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ankeny, IA to Oakland, 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
2h 17m
Distance
116 mi
187 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 8m
★
6 AM
2h 18m
8 AM
2h 37m
10 AM
2h 25m
12 PM
2h 23m
3 PM
2h 26m
5 PM
2h 36m
8 PM
2h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Oakland, IA
Robert So
Trip Overview
This 116-mile drive from Ankeny, IA to Oakland, IA is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 17 minutes. Designed for a single day, the route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 94% of the journey on major roads. You can expect a fuel cost of around $18 for this trip. Given its relatively short distance and highway-centric profile, this route is ideal for a quick excursion or an efficient leg of a larger Midwest journey. You'll be staying within the familiar landscapes of Iowa for the entirety of your travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 93.9 mi | 1h 42m |
| US 59 | 14 mi | 20m |
| Northwest 2nd Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Southwest State Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Southwest Ordnance Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| US 6 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Kearney Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 93.9 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Oakland, IA.
1
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
7 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Walnut Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Ordnance Road
4
Turn left onto Southwest State Street
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Southwest State Street
5
Continue on IA 415
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
7
Merge onto I 80; I 35
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 80; I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
83 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
I 80
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 59: Avoca, Harlan
10
Turn straight onto US 59
14 mi
·
20 min
·
US 59
11
Turn right onto US 6; US 59
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6; US 59
12
Turn left onto North Kearney Street
369 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Kearney Street
13
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
111 ft
·
4 sec
·
Oakland Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Oakland Avenue
Trip Plan
With a duration of just over two hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart Ankeny at your leisure, as the 116-mile distance doesn't necessitate an early start. Given the extensive highway travel, particularly the 93.9-mile stretch on I-80, plan for minimal stops unless needed for fuel or a quick break. The estimated fuel cost is $18, so factor that into your budget. Keep an eye out for the transition onto US-59 and then Northwest 2nd Street as you approach your destination in Oakland, as these are your final segments off the interstate.
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 58 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.9 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58 miles or 1h 8m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakland, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ankeny, 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 Ankeny, IA
This is one driving day of about 116 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Ankeny, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 93.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58 miles from Ankeny, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.9 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 0 and 100.7 — 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
|
Southwest Walnut Street
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Southwest Ordnance Road
At end of road, turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road
Navigation decision point
5
6.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 80; I 35
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
18 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
5
100.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward US 59: Avoca, Harlan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 59: Avoca, Harlan
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.14 one way
$36.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.91 | $39.82 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.32 | $44.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.61 | $51.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.18 | $5.57 |
| Efficient EV | 29 | 0 | $10.15 | $4.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.4 | 0 | $16.24 | $7.42 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Oakland, IA
Late night in Oakland on Tuesday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°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
7 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
2h 17m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 94% of the 116 miles taking place on major roadways. The bulk of your travel will be on I-80, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 93.9 miles. This means you'll primarily be in a driving environment with higher speeds and consistent road conditions for most of the journey. While the route begins and ends on local streets, the vast majority of your time behind the wheel will be on this interstate, offering a predictable and efficient travel pace.
94% 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: 93.9 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 59. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 17m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Southwest Ordnance Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ankeny, IA to Oakland, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Harlan along the way.
Harlan
100.7 mi in
|
~1h 54m
About the Cities
Starting in Ankeny, IA
Full guide →Ankeny is a suburb of Des Moines in Central Iowa.
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 2h 17m. Total distance: 116 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.9 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Southwest Ordnance Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Oakland, IA before heading back.
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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