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Trip from Ankeny, IA to Britt, IA

Data updated 4 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 21m

Distance

111.7 mi

180 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 12m ★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 41m
10 AM
2h 28m
12 PM
2h 26m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 40m
8 PM
2h 16m

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

city in Polk County, Iowa, United States

Ankeny, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Britt, IA, IA

Britt, IA

Quang Nguyen Vinh

Trip Overview

This 111.7-mile drive from Ankeny, IA, to Britt, IA, is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 21 minutes. Given its manageable distance and duration, it's an ideal candidate for a day trip, with a fuel cost estimated at $17. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it a practical choice for those looking for an efficient journey within the Midwest. The route is entirely within Iowa, so you won't be crossing state lines, simplifying any travel planning.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

55.8 miles from Ankeny, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a primarily highway experience on this route, with 79% of the drive taking place on major roads like I-35 and US-69. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 49.6 miles on I-35, offering a good opportunity to settle into a steady pace. While the profile is highway-focused, the inclusion of Little Wall Lake Road suggests a potential for slightly more local road driving as you approach your destination. Overall, this journey leans towards efficiency rather than winding backroads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 49.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 69. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 21m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Southwest Walnut Street

Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | West 1st Street

At end of road, turn right onto West 1st Street

Navigation decision point

4
51.6 mi into trip | ~58m in

Take the exit toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
4
55.3 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in

Take the exit toward US 69

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward US 69
5
101.9 mi into trip | ~2h 7m in | US 18; US 69

At end of road, turn left onto US 18; US 69

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35 49.6 mi 53m
US 69 25.9 mi 35m
Little Wall Lake Road 19.5 mi 26m
US 18 9.5 mi 13m
US 20 3.3 mi 3m
West 1st Street 1.5 mi 3m
220th Street 0.8 mi 1m
Main Avenue North 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 35 — 49.6 mi, about 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Britt, IA.

1

Start on Southwest 3rd Street

48 ft · 4 sec · Southwest 3rd Street
2

Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Southwest Walnut Street
3

At end of road, turn right onto West 1st Street

1.5 mi · 3 min · West 1st Street
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
5

Merge onto I 35

50 mi · 53 min · I 35
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
7

Merge onto US 20

3.3 mi · 3 min · US 20
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward US 69
9

Turn right onto US 69

19 mi · 26 min · Little Wall Lake Road
10

Turn right onto US 69; IA 3

0.8 mi · 1 min · 220th Street
11

Turn straight onto US 69; IA 3

12 mi · 17 min · US 69; IA 3
12

Continue on US 69

14 mi · 18 min · US 69
13

At end of road, turn left onto US 18; US 69

9.5 mi · 13 min · US 18; US 69
14

Turn left onto Main Avenue North

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Main Avenue North
15

Arrive at destination

Main Avenue North

Trip Plan

For this 2-hour and 21-minute drive, starting your trip in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Britt, IA, without feeling rushed. With no designated stops in the data, you have flexibility to add breaks as needed, perhaps at one of the many exits along I-35. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $17, and plan a refueling stop if you're starting with less than half a tank. A specific tip for this route: utilize the 49.6-mile stretch on I-35 to get into a rhythm, but be prepared for potential changes in road type as you transition towards US-69 and Little Wall Lake Road.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.8 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.6 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 55.8 miles or 1h 4m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 53m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Ankeny, 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 Ankeny, IA

This is one driving day of about 111.7 miles and 2h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ankeny, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 49.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 55.8 mi from Ankeny, IA · 1h 4m into the drive

city in Story County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ames, IA

56 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

Mason City, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ames, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 55.8 miles from Ankeny, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Britt, IA

The final approach into Britt, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Britt, IA.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.46 one way

$34.93 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $19.17 $38.35
premium $4.89 $21.50 $42.99
diesel $5.61 $24.66 $49.32

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 39.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.5 0 $11.73 $5.36
Efficient EV 27.9 0 $9.77 $4.47
EV Truck/SUV 44.7 0 $15.64 $7.15

Gas CO2

39 kg

EV CO2

13 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 data refreshed 40 minutes ago

Origin

Ankeny, IA

Late night in Ankeny on Wednesday

Local time

3:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Britt, IA

Late night in Britt on Wednesday

Local time

3:08 AM

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

1 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

2h 21m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Ankeny, IA to Britt, IA covers 111.7 miles and takes about 2h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 69, Little Wall Lake Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.8 miles from Ankeny, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.46 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 2h 21m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Ankeny, IA to Britt, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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