Origin
Ankeny, IA
Morning in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
9:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ankeny, IA to Lake Mills, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 32m
Distance
131.5 mi
212 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 22m
★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 40m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 41m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Lake Mills, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Lake Mills, IA covers 131.5 miles and takes about 2h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, 410th Street, Bluebill Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 115.5 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.56 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
65.7 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 131.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 32m highway drive covering 131.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and 410th Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 115.5 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 115.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and 410th Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Lake Mills, IA is easy. At 2h 32m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese 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
3
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
117.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 10m in
|
CR A38 / 410th Street
Turn left onto CR A38 / 410th Street
Navigation decision point
4
123.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m in
|
South Western Street
Turn right onto South Western Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 115.5 mi | 2h 4m |
| 410th Street | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| Bluebill Avenue | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| West 1st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| County Road 105 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Western Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| County Highway 105 | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 115.5 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Lake Mills, 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
116 mi
·
2 hr 4 min
·
I 35
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
7
Turn left onto CR A38
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
410th Street
8
Turn right onto South Western Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Western Street
9
Continue on Bluebill Avenue
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Bluebill Avenue
10
Turn left onto CR 105; I 35 ALT
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 105
11
Continue on CR 105
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway 105
12
Continue on CR 105
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
US 69
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.7 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.5 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 29 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.7 miles or 1h 13m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Mills, 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 131.5 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Ankeny, 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 I 35 for about 115.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.7 mi from Ankeny, IA · 1h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.7 miles from Ankeny, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 115.5 miles.
Arriving in Lake Mills, IA
The final approach into Lake Mills, 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 Lake Mills, IA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.56 one way
$41.12 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.57 | $45.14 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.31 | $50.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.03 | $58.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.4 | 0 | $13.81 | $6.31 |
| Efficient EV | 32.9 | 0 | $11.51 | $5.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.6 | 0 | $18.41 | $8.42 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Lake Mills, IA
Morning in Lake Mills on Saturday
Local time
9:28 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 32m 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 Lake Mills, IA covers 131.5 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, 410th Street, Bluebill Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 65.7 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 $20.56 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Lake Mills, IA is easy. At 2h 32m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from Ankeny, IA to Lake Mills, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Lake Mills, IA
More trips to Lake Mills, IA
Explore more options from Ankeny, IA or browse trips ending in Lake Mills, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.