Traveling from Osceola County to Ankeny covers 220.1 miles across the heart of the Iowa Midwest. You should plan for a total drive time of approximately 3 hours and 41 minutes, making this a very manageable single-day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of about $33, it is a cost-effective way to traverse the state. Because you will be navigating a series of local roads rather than a direct interstate, you will want to stay alert behind the wheel. Use this route if you prefer a more hands-on driving experience away from the heavy traffic of major thoroughfares.
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
109.9 miles from Osceola County, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
92.4 mi
1h 46m
I 35
49.1 mi
53m
Silver Avenue
13.5 mi
19m
County Highway A30
13 mi
17m
20th Avenue
9.2 mi
12m
Railroad Street
6.6 mi
9m
Armstrong Avenue
6 mi
8m
470th Street
4.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 92.4 mi, about 1h 46m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~965 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,423
Quietest
2 AM
~93 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Osceola County, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on Silver Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Silver Avenue
2
Turn right onto 190th Street
1.0 mi·3 min·190th Street
3
Turn left onto US 59
13 mi·17 min·County Highway A30
4
Turn left onto US 18; US 59
1.0 mi·1 min·320th Street
5
Turn right onto US 59
6.0 mi·8 min·Silver Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on US 59
1.6 mi·2 min·North Rerick Avenue
7
Continue on US 59
7.2 mi·9 min·Silver Avenue
8
Continue on US 59; IA 10
4.1 mi·5 min·470th Street
9
Turn right onto US 59
4.0 mi·5 min·Tanager Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on US 59
3.1 mi·4 min·Q Avenue
11
Continue on US 59
6.6 mi·9 min·Railroad Street
12
Turn left onto IA 3
2.7 mi·3 min·State Highway 3
13
Turn left onto IA 3
3.4 mi·4 min·530th Street
14
Turn right onto IA 7
2.0 mi·2 min·V Avenue
15
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi·2 min·1st Street
16
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi·2 min·State Highway 7
17
Continue on IA 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 7
18
Turn right onto 20th Avenue
9.2 mi·12 min·20th Avenue
19
Continue on CR M27
6.0 mi·8 min·Armstrong Avenue
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 20
92 mi·1 hr 46 min·220th Street
21
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
22
Merge onto I 35
49 mi·53 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 92Toward 1st Street
24
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft·9 sec
25
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi·3 min·East 1st Street
26
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
27
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·2 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
28
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 3-hour and 41-minute commitment, try to depart early in the morning to avoid fatigue and maximize your daylight hours. You only need one planned stop to comfortably complete the journey, allowing you to stretch your legs and refuel without feeling rushed. Keep a close eye on your navigation system, as the reliance on local roads like County Highway A30 can make missing a turn easy. Budgeting $33 for gas is a solid estimate, but keep a little extra set aside for local fluctuations. Because the route is purely local, stay flexible with your timing and expect a slower, more deliberate pace than you would encounter on a major highway.
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 109.9 miles from Osceola County, IA, or about 2h 28m 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 48 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.9 miles or 2h 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 3h 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 Osceola County, 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 Osceola County, IA
This is one driving day of about 219.7 miles and 4h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Osceola County, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.3 and 218.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
15.3 mi into trip|~24m in|US 59 / Silver Avenue
Turn right onto US 59 / Silver Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
34.2 mi into trip|~50m in|US 59 / Tanager Avenue
Turn right onto US 59 / Tanager Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
168.7 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
217.8 mi into trip|~4h 29m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
218.1 mi into trip|~4h 30m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.44 one way
$64.89 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$35.82
$71.64
premium
$4.72
$40.79
$81.58
diesel
$4.80
$41.48
$82.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.9
0
$23.07
$10.55
Efficient EV
54.9
0
$19.22
$8.79
EV Truck/SUV
87.9
1
$30.76
$14.06
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Osceola County, IA
Morning
in Osceola County on Saturday
Local time
6:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Clear
SSE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 15 at 8:59PM CDT until July 18 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Morning
in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
6:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Clear
ENE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 15 at 8:59PM CDT until July 18 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
4 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
4h 34m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local drive that keeps you engaged throughout the entire 220.1-mile journey. Unlike a standard interstate cruise, this path relies on 190th Street, County Highway A30, and 320th Street, meaning your highway share is effectively zero percent. You will find yourself navigating smaller segments rather than long, monotonous stretches, which demands your full attention as the road changes frequently. The route offers a distinct change of pace from typical highway travel, trading high-speed efficiency for a more technical, winding experience. Prepare for a hands-on drive that requires constant adjustments rather than miles of cruise control.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 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?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 15.3 miles in near US 59 / Silver Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 34m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 15.3 miles (US 59 / Silver Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.2 miles (US 59 / Tanager Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 168.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 92.4 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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: at 15.3 miles (US 59 / Silver Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.2 miles (US 59 / Tanager Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 168.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Ankeny, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
