Origin
Strawberry Point, IA
Night in Strawberry Point on Friday
Local time
10:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Strawberry Point, IA to Ankeny, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 24m
Distance
173.5 mi
279 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 49m
10 AM
3h 33m
12 PM
3h 31m
3 PM
3h 34m
5 PM
3h 48m
8 PM
3h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Strawberry Point, IA
Rashed Paykary
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Strawberry Point to Ankeny is 173.5 miles and takes about 3h 24m via Avenue of the Saints and I 35, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest region. You'll experience a mix of major highways and surface roads, making for a varied driving experience. With a recommended one-day drive and a manageable duration, this route is a straightforward option for connecting these two points.
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
86.7 miles from Strawberry Point, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 66.5 mi | 1h 16m |
| I 35 | 49.6 mi | 53m |
| US 20 | 33.8 mi | 38m |
| Washburn Avenue | 12.3 mi | 16m |
| C Avenue | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 3 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| 40th Street | 2 mi | 2m |
| East 1st Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 66.5 mi, about 1h 16m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~974 veh/hr typical · worst 1,494
Quietest
2 AM
~96 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 99 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 Strawberry Point, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on IA 13
60 ft
·
4 sec
·
Elkader Street
2
Turn right onto IA 3
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Mission Street
3
Continue on IA 3
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 3
4
Continue on IA 3
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
40th Street
5
Enter roundabout onto IA 187
210 ft
·
3 sec
·
C Avenue
6
Continue on IA 187
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
C Avenue
7
Continue on IA 187
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Washburn Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
9
Merge onto US 20
34 mi
·
38 min
·
US 20
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
66 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 35
50 mi
·
53 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
14
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft
·
9 sec
15
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
16
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
17
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
18
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 24m estimated drive time, starting in the morning from Strawberry Point will give you ample time to reach Ankeny comfortably. The route has only one recommended stop, suggesting you can be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $27, and plan your refueling stops accordingly, especially before longer stretches. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart later if needed.
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 86.7 miles from Strawberry Point, IA, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.5 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 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.7 miles or 1h 45m 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 48m
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 Strawberry Point, 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 Strawberry Point, IA
This is one driving day of about 173.5 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Strawberry Point, 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 66.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 86.7 miles from Strawberry Point, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.5 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 121.7 and 173.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
121.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
Take the exit toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
5
122 mi into trip
|
~2h 26m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
171.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 19m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
171.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
173.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 24m in
|
Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.90 one way
$53.80 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $29.50 | $58.99 |
| premium | $4.93 | $33.66 | $67.32 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $38.25 | $76.49 |
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: 60.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.1 | 0 | $18.22 | $8.33 |
| Efficient EV | 43.4 | 0 | $15.18 | $6.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.4 | 0 | $24.29 | $11.10 |
Gas CO2
61 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
Night in Ankeny on Friday
Local time
10:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
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
3h 24m 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?
This drive is about 50% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of the 3h 24m trip on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on Avenue of the Saints covers 66.5 miles before transitioning. Expect a mix of cruising on the interstate and navigating through towns and rural areas on the other roads. The frequent exits on I 35 will keep you engaged as you approach your destination.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.5 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 121.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 173.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 121.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 122 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 171.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,222 ft
926 ft
Total Climb
280 ft
Total Descent
509 ft
Highest Point
1,222 ft
Elevation Range
296 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Strawberry Point, IA
Full guide →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 24m. Total distance: 173.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.5 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.
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 121.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 122 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 171.6 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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