Origin
Cherokee, IA
Late night in Cherokee on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cherokee, IA to Ankeny, 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 25m
Distance
171.3 mi
276 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 13m
★
6 AM
3h 25m
8 AM
3h 50m
10 AM
3h 34m
12 PM
3h 31m
3 PM
3h 35m
5 PM
3h 48m
8 PM
3h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cherokee, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 171.3-mile journey from Cherokee, IA, to Ankeny, IA, is a manageable one-day road trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 25 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of local roads and interstate, with about 31% of the drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $27, making it an economical option. Given the relatively short duration and distance, this route is perfect for a single day's travel without needing an overnight stop, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. The drive remains within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout your travels.
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
85.6 miles from Cherokee, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 92.4 mi | 1h 46m |
| I 35 | 49.1 mi | 53m |
| 20th Avenue | 9.2 mi | 12m |
| Armstrong Avenue | 6 mi | 8m |
| 530th Street | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| State Highway 7 | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| V Avenue | 2 mi | 2m |
| 1st Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 92.4 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cherokee, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on this road
104 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 59
156 ft
·
9 sec
·
South 2nd Street
3
Turn right onto East Main Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
4
Continue on State Highway 977
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
State Highway 977
5
Continue on 530th Street
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
530th Street
6
Turn right onto IA 7
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
V Avenue
7
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Street
8
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 7
9
Continue on IA 7
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 7
10
Turn right onto 20th Avenue
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
20th Avenue
11
Continue on CR M27
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Armstrong Avenue
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 20
92 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
220th Street
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
14
Merge onto I 35
49 mi
·
53 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
16
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft
·
9 sec
17
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
18
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
19
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
20
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just 3 hours and 25 minutes, this 171.3-mile trip offers considerable flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive by midday, or even start after lunch. There's only one recommended stop, so plan for a brief break if needed, perhaps around the halfway point or when you transition onto I-35. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 92.4 miles on 220th Street, as services might be less frequent on these local roads. The estimated $27 fuel cost is a good budget to keep in mind.
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 85.6 miles from Cherokee, IA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.4 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 38 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.6 miles or 1h 46m 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 49m
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 Cherokee, 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 Cherokee, IA
This is one driving day of about 171.3 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Cherokee, 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 92.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.6 miles from Cherokee, 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 92.4 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 171.2 — 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
|
US 59 / South 2nd Street
Turn left onto US 59 / South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
120.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 27m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
169.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 20m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
169.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
171.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 25m in
|
Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.78 one way
$53.56 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.40 | $58.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.97 | $65.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.82 | $75.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.4 | 0 | $17.99 | $8.22 |
| Efficient EV | 42.8 | 0 | $14.99 | $6.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.5 | 0 | $23.98 | $10.96 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Late night in Ankeny on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°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
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 25m 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 mixed drive on this route, with 31% of your travel on highways. The road's personality shifts, featuring a significant uninterrupted stretch of 92.4 miles on 220th Street before transitioning to other main roads like I-35 and 20th Avenue. This means you'll experience both the open-road feeling of longer segments and the more direct nature of interstate travel. The profile suggests a varied driving experience, rather than a monotonous interstate grind, offering a dynamic feel behind the wheel.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.4 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 59 / South 2nd 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 3h 25m drive. You will face about 10 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 (US 59 / South 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 120.2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Arriving 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 3h 25m. Total distance: 171.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 92.4 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: near the start (US 59 / South 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 120.2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Ankeny, 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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