Saint Ansgar to Indiana, IA is 197.5 miles and takes about 3 hours 57 minutes via Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest from one side to the other. Expect a route characterized by frequent turns and local road driving, making it a more engaged experience than a simple interstate cruise. With a single recommended day for this drive, you'll have ample time to enjoy the journey without feeling rushed, perfect for a leisurely exploration of the state.
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
98.8 miles from Saint Ansgar, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
115.8 mi
2h 4m
IA 5
35.4 mi
42m
State Highway 9
16.5 mi
22m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
10.7 mi
12m
Balsam Avenue
6 mi
10m
420th Street
4 mi
7m
I 80
2.6 mi
2m
County Highway G76
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 115.8 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Ansgar, IA and Indiana, IA.
1
Start on Train Lane
59 ft·4 sec·Train Lane
2
Turn left onto CR 105
0.3 mi·1 min·West 4th Street
3
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·South Main Street
4
Continue on Foothill Avenue
0.2 mi·24 sec·Foothill Avenue
5
Turn right onto 420th Street
4.0 mi·7 min·420th Street
6
Turn left onto CR S70
6.0 mi·10 min·Balsam Avenue
7
Turn right onto IA 9
9.4 mi·12 min·State Highway 9
8
Continue on IA 9
1.0 mi·2 min·East South Street
9
Continue on IA 9
7.1 mi·9 min·State Highway 9
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
11
Merge onto I 35; IA 27
116 mi·2 hr 4 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
0.2 mi·12 sec·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·2 min
Exit 137AToward I 80 East: Davenport
14
Merge onto I 80
2.6 mi·2 min·I 80
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 141Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des MoinesUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto US 65
11 mi·12 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
18
Continue on IA 5
19 mi·21 min·IA 5
19
Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92
11 mi·11 min·IA 5; IA 92
20
Take the exit onto IA 5
0.5 mi·1 min·IA 5
21
Turn right onto IA 5
5.8 mi·8 min·IA 5
22
Turn sharp right onto CR G76
0.2 mi·24 sec·County Highway G76
23
Continue on CR G76
1.9 mi·3 min·County Highway G76
24
Arrive at destination
CR G76
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 57 minute duration, leaving Saint Ansgar in the morning should allow you to reach Indiana with plenty of daylight to spare. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the drive into two segments to fully appreciate the "turn-heavy local drive" character. The longest stretch on Avenue of the Saints is over 100 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, especially since this route is predominantly local roads. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services might be less frequent than on major interstates.
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 98.8 miles from Saint Ansgar, IA, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.8 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 43 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.8 miles or 2h 1m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indiana, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Ansgar, 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 Saint Ansgar, IA
This is one driving day of about 197.5 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Saint Ansgar, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 115.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 28.7 and 148.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
28.7 mi into trip|~45m in|I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
144.5 mi into trip|~2h 50m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
5
144.7 mi into trip|~2h 51m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Davenport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 137A
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
8
148.1 mi into trip|~2h 56m in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 141
Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
5
148.7 mi into trip|~2h 57m in|US 65 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto US 65 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.88 one way
$61.75 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$33.90
$67.80
premium
$4.89
$38.01
$76.01
diesel
$5.61
$43.61
$87.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.3
0
$20.74
$9.48
Efficient EV
49.4
0
$17.28
$7.90
EV Truck/SUV
79
0
$27.65
$12.64
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Saint Ansgar, IA
Afternoon
in Saint Ansgar on Sunday
Local time
3:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Indiana, IA
Afternoon
in Indiana on Sunday
Local time
3:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
24 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 57m 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 drive features a "turn-heavy local drive" profile, meaning you'll be navigating a variety of roads rather than sticking to a single highway. With only 28% highway share, much of your time will be spent on State Highway 9 and the Avenue of the Saints. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 115.8 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, offering a substantial segment of consistent driving before the landscape shifts. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience with numerous directional changes.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.8 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 28.7 miles in near I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints.
Driving Effort6/10
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 197.5 miles you will encounter 16 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 28.7 miles (I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.5 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Ansgar, IA and Indiana, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport and Des Moines.
Council Bluffs
144.5 mi in|~2h 50m|via I 35
Davenport
144.5 mi in|~2h 50m|via I 35
Des Moines
148.1 mi in|~2h 56m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 197.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 115.8 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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 Indiana, 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 28.7 miles (I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.5 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Indiana, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
