Origin
Hawarden, IA
Night in Hawarden on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hawarden, IA to Ankeny, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 49m
Distance
248.4 mi
400 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 36m
★
6 AM
4h 49m
8 AM
5h 16m
10 AM
4h 59m
12 PM
4h 56m
3 PM
5h 0m
5 PM
5h 15m
8 PM
4h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hawarden, IA
Abhishek Navlakha
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 248.4-mile drive from Hawarden, IA to Ankeny, IA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 49 minutes. You'll primarily be on major interstates, with an 84% highway share, making it a straightforward journey through the heart of the Midwest. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $39, which is quite reasonable for the distance covered. Given the relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
124.2 miles from Hawarden, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 107.4 mi | 1h 56m |
| I 29 | 79.4 mi | 1h 25m |
| K18N | 19.9 mi | 27m |
| I 880 | 16 mi | 17m |
| Buchanan Avenue | 6 mi | 8m |
| State Highway 12 | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Sioux River Road | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Northwest 2nd Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 107.4 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hawarden, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on Central Avenue
344 ft
·
17 sec
·
Central Avenue
2
Turn right onto IA 10
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Street
3
Turn right onto CR K18
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Buchanan Avenue
4
Continue on CR K18
20 mi
·
27 min
·
K18N
5
At end of road, turn left onto IA 12; CR K18
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 12
6
Continue on IA 12
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Sioux River Road
7
Turn right onto IA 12
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Riverside Boulevard
Use the right lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 29 South
9
Merge onto I 29
79 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
I 29
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 71
Toward I 880 East: Des Moines
11
Continue on I 880
16 mi
·
17 min
·
I 880
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 16A
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 80
95 mi
·
1 hr 41 min
·
I 80
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
12 mi
·
14 min
·
I 80
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 135
Toward IA 415: Polk City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto IA 415
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
17
Continue on IA 415
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Southwest State Street
18
Turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Ordnance Road
19
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Walnut Street
20
Turn right onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
21
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
For this 4 hour and 49-minute drive, starting your trip in the morning will give you plenty of daylight and flexibility. With only one suggested stop and a longest stretch of 107.4 miles, you can easily plan your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer segments on I 80, as services can sometimes be spaced out. The $39 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. Since this is a manageable day trip, you have the advantage of not needing to rush, allowing for a more relaxed travel experience.
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 124.2 miles from Hawarden, IA, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.4 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 55 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.2 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 54m
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 Hawarden, 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 Hawarden, IA
This is one driving day of about 248.4 miles and 4h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Hawarden, 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 107.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
124 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 124.2 miles from Hawarden, 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 107.4 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 34.9 and 241.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
34.9 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
IA 12 / Riverside Boulevard
Turn right onto IA 12 / Riverside Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
37 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the ramp toward I 29 South
Navigation decision point
Toward I 29 South
8
133.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16A
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
9
229.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 22m in
|
I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
7
241.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 36m in
Take the exit toward IA 415: Polk City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 135
Toward IA 415: Polk City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.83 one way
$77.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
87 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $42.64 | $85.28 |
| premium | $4.89 | $47.80 | $95.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.84 | $109.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.5 | 0 | $26.08 | $11.92 |
| Efficient EV | 62.1 | 0 | $21.74 | $9.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 99.4 | 1 | $34.78 | $15.90 |
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Night in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
6 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
4h 49m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 248.4-mile journey. With 84% of the route on highways, you'll experience long stretches of efficient travel. The longest uninterrupted section is a significant 107.4 miles on I 80, allowing for steady progress. While the majority is interstate, the inclusion of K18N suggests a brief transition to a different road type, possibly a state highway, before you reach your destination. Overall, this route emphasizes getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.4 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 34.9 miles in near IA 12 / Riverside Boulevard.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 248.4 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 34.9 miles (IA 12 / Riverside Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 37 miles: Navigation decision point; at 133.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Hawarden, IA and Ankeny, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
Minneapolis
229.1 mi in
|
~4h 22m
|
via I 80
Kansas City
229.1 mi in
|
~4h 22m
|
via I 80
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 49m. Total distance: 248.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.4 miles on I 80. 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Ankeny, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 34.9 miles (IA 12 / Riverside Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 37 miles: Navigation decision point; at 133.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 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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