This 112.2-mile journey from Ankeny, IA to Hiawatha, IA is a manageable 2-hour and 18-minute drive, perfect for a single day trip. You'll navigate primarily local roads, with only a 6% share of highway driving, making it a more hands-on experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $18, this drive through the Midwest region of Iowa is straightforward and efficient. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan your own breaks as needed. This route offers a consistent pace without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.1 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 112.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the majority of this 112.2-mile trip. While 6% of the route is on highways, the bulk of your time will be spent on roads like Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, and 73rd Street. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 37 miles on Lincoln Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before returning to more frequent turns. This isn't a high-speed interstate experience; rather, it's a drive that requires your attention to navigation and road conditions.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lincoln Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 37 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 112.2 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: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 102.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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
5
102.7 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
6
110.6 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Edgewood Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Edgewood Road
5
110.7 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|Edgewood Road Northeast
Turn left onto Edgewood Road Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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 Ankeny, IA to Hiawatha, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marion along the way.
Marion
102.7 mi in|~2h 4m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
37 mi
42m
Northeast Hubbell Road
28 mi
32m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
Northeast 94th Avenue
8.5 mi
13m
IA 100
6.6 mi
7m
West 1st Street
1.8 mi
4m
Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
0.9 mi
2m
Edgewood Road Northeast
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 37 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Hiawatha, 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
1.8 mi·4 min·West 1st Street
4
Continue on Northeast 94th Avenue
8.5 mi·13 min·Northeast 94th Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
28 mi·32 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
7
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
8
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
9
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
10
Continue on IA 100
6.6 mi·7 min·IA 100
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward Edgewood Road
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward Edgewood Road
13
Turn left onto Edgewood Road Northeast
0.4 mi·51 sec·Edgewood Road Northeast
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right onto Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
0.9 mi·2 min·Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
15
Turn left onto 10th Avenue
393 ft·12 sec·10th Avenue
16
Turn right onto Heefner Street
205 ft·9 sec·Heefner Street
17
Arrive at destination
Heefner Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 18-minute duration, starting your drive from Ankeny in the morning will allow you to reach Hiawatha with plenty of daylight. The $18 fuel cost suggests you won't need extensive refueling stops, but it's always wise to top off before you leave. Since this is a 'turn-heavy local drive,' pay close attention to your GPS and road signs, especially when navigating through areas with frequent intersections. The longest stretch on Lincoln Highway is 37 miles, so if you plan to stop for a break, consider timing it around that section for a more relaxed pause.
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 56.1 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37 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 25 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.1 miles or 1h 11m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hiawatha, 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 112.2 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Ankeny, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lincoln Highway for about 37 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.1 mi from Ankeny, IA
· 1h 11m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.54 one way
$35.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.26
$38.52
premium
$4.89
$21.59
$43.18
diesel
$5.61
$24.77
$49.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
3 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
InCharge Energy Charging Station
Newhall, Iowa
InCharge
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Blink
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Other
1 DCFC
InCharge: 1
Blink: 1
Other: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.7
0
$11.78
$5.39
Efficient EV
28.1
0
$9.82
$4.49
EV Truck/SUV
44.9
0
$15.71
$7.18
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 as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Ankeny, IA
Morning
in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
6:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
35°F
Mostly Clear
NW 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:33AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Hiawatha, IA
Morning
in Hiawatha on Saturday
Local time
6:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°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
37 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 18m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Hiawatha, IA covers 112.2 miles and takes about 2h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, 73rd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.1 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 $17.54 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 112.2 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.
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 102.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Ankeny, IA to Hiawatha, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marion along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
