Cascade, IA to Ankeny, IA is 158 miles and takes about 3h 12m via US 151, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip primarily traversing the Midwest's familiar landscapes. With a relatively short drive time and a modest fuel cost, it's an accessible option for many. The route offers a mixed driving experience, so be prepared for varying road conditions. It's a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B within Iowa.
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
79 miles from Cascade, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 151
37.5 mi
44m
Lincoln Highway
37.3 mi
43m
Marshalltown Boulevard
28.2 mi
32m
73rd Street
24.4 mi
28m
IA 100
15.2 mi
18m
Northeast 94th Avenue
8.5 mi
13m
16th Avenue Southwest
2.4 mi
2m
East 1st Street
1.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 151
— 37.5 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cascade, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on US 151 Business
1.5 mi·2 min·1st Avenue West
2
Continue on US 151
36 mi·42 min·US 151
3
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi·1 min·US 151; IA 13
4
Turn right onto IA 100
15 mi·18 min·IA 100
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
6
Merge onto US 30; US 218
2.4 mi·2 min·16th Avenue Southwest
7
Continue on US 30; US 218
24 mi·28 min·73rd Street
8
Continue on US 30
37 mi·43 min·Lincoln Highway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
10
Turn left onto IA 330
28 mi·32 min·Marshalltown Boulevard
11
Turn right onto Northeast 94th Avenue
8.5 mi·13 min·Northeast 94th Avenue
12
Continue on East 1st Street
1.8 mi·4 min·East 1st Street
13
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
14
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·2 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
15
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 12m duration, leaving Cascade, IA in the morning allows ample time to reach Ankeny, IA before evening. The route involves one significant stretch of 37.5 miles on US 151, so plan your refueling and rest stops accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point. With a fuel cost estimated at $24, this is an economical trip. Since it's a single-day drive, you have flexibility; however, be mindful of the mixed drive profile and be ready to adapt to different road conditions as you go.
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 79 miles from Cascade, IA, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.5 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 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79 miles or 1h 34m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ankeny, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cascade, 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 Cascade, IA
This is one driving day of about 158 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Cascade, 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 US 151 for about 37.5 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 39 and 158 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
39 mi into trip|~46m in|IA 100
Turn right onto IA 100
Navigation decision point
5
54.2 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshall...
5
119 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
4
157.8 mi into trip|~3h 11m in|Southwest Walnut Street
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
158 mi into trip|~3h 12m in|Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.70 one way
$49.40 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.12
$54.24
premium
$4.89
$30.41
$60.81
diesel
$5.61
$34.88
$69.77
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: 55.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.4
0
$16.59
$7.58
Efficient EV
39.5
0
$13.83
$6.32
EV Truck/SUV
63.2
0
$22.12
$10.11
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 15, 2026
Origin
Cascade, IA
Night
in Cascade on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Night
in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
79 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
22 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 12m 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 158-mile journey presents a mixed drive, with 33% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches on US 151, the historic Lincoln Highway, and Marshalltown Boulevard, offering a varied driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll face is 37.5 miles on US 151. Expect a blend of faster-paced highway driving and potentially more local road sections as you progress. This mix means you'll need to adjust your speed and awareness throughout the trip.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.5 mi on US 151.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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 39 miles in near IA 100.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Cascade, IA to Ankeny, IA is easy. At 3h 12m with 33% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 39 miles (IA 100): Navigation decision point; at 54.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cascade, IA and Ankeny, IA, road signs point toward Marshalltown and Des Moines.
Marshalltown
54.2 mi in|~1h 5m
Des Moines
119 mi in|~2h 20m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 158 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 37.5 miles on US 151. 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 39 miles (IA 100): Navigation decision point; at 54.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Ankeny, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
