Ankeny, IA to Winfield, IA is 156.5 miles and takes about 2h 59m via I 80 and State Highway 78, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Midwest, traversing the heart of Iowa on a predominantly highway route. It's a straightforward drive, ideal for a single-day excursion when you want to cover ground efficiently without a long commitment. Expect a quick transit between these two Iowa communities.
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
78.2 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
100.7 mi
1h 48m
Avenue of the Saints
41.6 mi
48m
State Highway 78
5.2 mi
7m
I 35
4.8 mi
5m
West 1st Street
1.4 mi
3m
Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
<1m
South Locust Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Southwest 3rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 100.7 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Winfield, IA.
1
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·4 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto West 1st Street
1.4 mi·3 min·West 1st Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·30 sec
Toward I-35 south: Des Moines
5
Merge onto I 35
4.7 mi·5 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
0.2 mi·12 sec·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi·2 min
Exit 137AToward I 80 East: Davenport
8
Merge onto I 80
101 mi·1 hr 48 min·I 80
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward US 218 South, IA 27 South: Mount Pleasant, Keokuk
11
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
42 mi·48 min·Avenue of the Saints
12
Turn left onto IA 78
5.2 mi·7 min·State Highway 78
13
Turn slight left
0.2 mi·17 sec
14
Turn straight onto South Locust Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·South Locust Street
15
Turn left
0.1 mi·47 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 59m duration, leaving Ankeny in the morning allows ample time to reach Winfield well before sunset. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $24, this is a flexible, single-day trip that doesn't require extensive planning. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 100.7-mile stretch on I 80, as services can be spaced out. The transition from I 80 to State Highway 78 marks the point where you'll want to be more mindful of local road conditions and potential for slower traffic as you approach your destination.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78.2 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.7 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 34 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.2 miles or 1h 28m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winfield, 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 156.5 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Ankeny, 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 I 80 for about 100.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 108.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Southwest Walnut Street
Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|West 1st Street
At end of road, turn right onto West 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
6.6 mi into trip|~9m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
6
108.8 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 218 South, IA 27 South: Mount Pleasant, Keokuk
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218 South, IA 27 South: Mount Pleasan...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.47 one way
$48.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.86
$53.73
premium
$4.89
$30.12
$60.23
diesel
$5.61
$34.55
$69.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.9
0
$16.43
$7.51
Efficient EV
39.1
0
$13.69
$6.26
EV Truck/SUV
62.6
0
$21.91
$10.02
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Ankeny, IA
Late night
in Ankeny on Tuesday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Winfield, IA
Late night
in Winfield on Tuesday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Brooklyn, IA
78 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
13 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 59m 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 drive is mostly highway, with 71% of the 156.5 miles on major roads like I 80. You'll experience a long stretch of 100.7 miles on I 80, offering consistent cruising. After leaving the interstate, the route shifts to surface roads, specifically State Highway 78, for the remaining portion of your drive into Winfield. Expect a noticeable change in pace and exit frequency as you transition from high-speed interstate travel to more local roads.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.7 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Avenue of the Saints. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 156.5 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (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.
On the drive from Ankeny, IA to Winfield, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Keokuk along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 156.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 100.7 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (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 Winfield, IA before heading back.
