Trip from Indiana, IA to Atkins, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 42m

Distance

121.2 mi

195 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Fair

3 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min

4 AM

2h 32m ★

6 AM

2h 43m

8 AM

3h 4m

10 AM

2h 50m

12 PM

2h 48m

3 PM

2h 51m

5 PM

3h 3m

8 PM

2h 36m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Indiana, IA

Kelly

Atkins, IA

Tara Winstead

Trip Overview

This 121.2-mile drive from Indiana, IA, to Atkins, IA, will take you about 2 hours and 42 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day road trip. You'll primarily navigate County Highway G76 and South Lincoln Street, with a portion on Highway 14. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, this journey through Iowa's Midwest region is an economical option for a quick excursion. The route is characterized by frequent turns, so be prepared for an engaging drive rather than a straightforward cruise. It's a manageable distance that allows for flexibility in your timing and stops.

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

60.6 miles from Indiana, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 80	37.2 mi	39m
State Highway 14	23.3 mi	34m
73rd Street	19 mi	21m
IA 5	7.6 mi	11m
B Avenue	5.8 mi	8m
15th Avenue	4.5 mi	7m
380th Avenue	4.2 mi	5m
220th Street	3.6 mi	5m

Longest stretch: I 80 — 37.2 mi, about 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Indiana, IA and Atkins, IA.

Start on CR G76

1.9 mi · 3 min · County Highway G76

Continue on CR G76

0.2 mi · 26 sec · County Highway G76

Turn sharp left onto IA 5

6.1 mi · 9 min · IA 5

Take the ramp onto IA 5

1.5 mi · 1 min · IA 5

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Turn right onto IA 14

2.2 mi · 3 min · South Lincoln Street

Continue on IA 14

13 mi · 18 min · State Highway 14

Continue on IA 14

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Monroe Street

Continue on IA 14

11 mi · 16 min · State Highway 14

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Merge onto I 80

37 mi · 39 min · I 80

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward IA 21: Belle Plain, What Cheer

Turn right onto IA 21

3.6 mi · 5 min · 220th Street

Turn right onto US 6

4.2 mi · 5 min · 380th Avenue

Turn left onto IA 21

5.8 mi · 8 min · B Avenue

Continue on IA 21

2.5 mi · 3 min · State Highway 21

Continue on IA 21

1.5 mi · 2 min · 11th Avenue

Continue on IA 21

0.8 mi · 1 min · 7th Avenue

Turn right onto 13th Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · 13th Street

Continue on 77th Street Drive

0.5 mi · 59 sec · 77th Street Drive

Turn left onto 15th Avenue

4.5 mi · 7 min · 15th Avenue

Turn right onto US 30

19 mi · 21 min · 73rd Street

Turn left onto CR W26

2.0 mi · 3 min · 32nd Avenue

Turn right onto CR E44

0.6 mi · 1 min · Park Ridge Road

Turn left onto Main Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · Main Avenue

Arrive at destination

Main Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the 2 hours and 42-minute duration and 121.2-mile length, this trip is easily completed in one day. Consider departing in the morning to allow ample time for the multiple turns the route involves. With an estimated fuel cost of $18, it's an affordable journey, but be mindful of fuel levels as you'll be on local roads for the entire trip. The route includes one stop, so plan for a brief pause to stretch your legs or grab a quick refreshment. A specific tip for this drive: pay close attention to signage as you transition between County Highway G76, South Lincoln Street, and Highway 14 to ensure you stay on course.

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 60.6 miles from Indiana, IA, or about 1h 21m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.2 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 27 miles or 40m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 60.6 miles or 1h 21m 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 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atkins, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Indiana, 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 Indiana, IA

This is one driving day of about 121.2 miles and 2h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Indiana, 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 37.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Grinnell, IA

61 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

Monroe, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Grinnell, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 60.6 miles from Indiana, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Lincoln Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Belle Plaine, Iowa

Later in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 95.2

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+13194442228

Visit website

El catrin Mexican cuisine

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Belle Plaine, Iowa

2.1 mi

Ice House Drive-In

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Belle Plaine, Iowa

2 mi

Top Coffee Stop

The Regal Fritillary LLC

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Belle Plaine, Iowa

Later in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 95.2

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+13194449913

Visit website

Lincoln Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 95.2

Belle Plaine, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+13194442228

Visit website

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 103.9

Keystone, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–4:30 pm

+13194422253

Saints Rest Coffee House

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10 mile 51.9

Grinnell, Iowa

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+16412366014

Visit website

Comeback Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 51.9

Grinnell, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+16412360176

Visit website

JT's Marketplace

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 121.2

Atkins, Iowa

InCharge Energy Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 112.5

Newhall, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18333994638

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 51.9

Grinnell, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 77.9

Brooklyn, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

The TapHaus

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 121.2

Atkins, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13194462739

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 82.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

2 mi into trip | ~3m in | IA 5

Turn sharp left onto IA 5

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

8.1 mi into trip | ~12m in | IA 5

Take the ramp onto IA 5

Navigation decision point

74.1 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in

Take the exit toward IA 21: Belle Plain, What Cheer

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward IA 21: Belle Plain, What Cheer

74.3 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in | IA 21 / 220th Street

Turn right onto IA 21 / 220th Street

Navigation decision point

82.2 mi into trip | ~1h 47m in | IA 21 / B Avenue

Turn left onto IA 21 / B Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.95 one way

$37.90 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$20.80	$41.61
premium	$4.89	$23.32	$46.65
diesel	$5.61	$26.76	$53.52

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	36.4	$12.73	$5.82
Efficient EV	30.3	$10.61	$4.85
EV Truck/SUV	48.5	$16.97	$7.76

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 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

Indiana, IA

Late night in Indiana on Sunday

Local time

1:04 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Atkins, IA

Late night in Atkins on Sunday

Local time

1:04 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°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

22 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 42m 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 turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 121.2-mile trip, as 0% of it is on highways. The absence of long highway stretches means you'll be actively navigating through various county roads and local streets, including County Highway G76 and South Lincoln Street, with a segment on Highway 14. Since there's no longest uninterrupted stretch mentioned, anticipate a dynamic driving experience with frequent adjustments. This kind of route is ideal if you prefer to stay engaged with the road and experience the nuances of local Iowa roadways.

58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 37.2 mi on I 80.

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 around 2 miles in near IA 5.

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 42m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 8.1 miles (IA 5): Navigation decision point; at 74.1 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.

On the drive from Indiana, IA to Atkins, IA, road signs begin pointing toward What Cheer along the way.

What Cheer

74.1 mi in | ~1h 35m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 121.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (58%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 37.2 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Atkins, 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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Explore more options from Indiana, IA or browse trips ending in Atkins, IA.

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Trip from Indiana, IA to Atkins, IA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Lincoln Cafe

The Regal Fritillary LLC

Lincoln Cafe

El catrin Mexican cuisine

Ice House Drive-In

Fire Box On Main

Valhalla Hatchets

Benton County Brewing Company

Udders Burgers & More

Shelly's Sweets

The Regal Fritillary LLC

Belle Plaine Blendz

Main Street Bakery and Café

Saints Rest Coffee House

Comeback Cafe

JT's Marketplace

InCharge Energy Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

The TapHaus

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Indiana, IA

Atkins, IA

Same local time

22 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 42m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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