Origin
Ankeny, IA
Afternoon in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
1:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ankeny, IA to Lake View, 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
115.8 mi
186 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 23m
★
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 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Lake View, IA
Maria Borisenko
Trip Overview
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Lake View, IA covers 115.8 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 220th Street, I 35, I 35 Bus for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43.6 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.10 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
57.9 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 43.6 mi | 57m |
| I 35 | 18.1 mi | 19m |
| I 35 Bus | 12.9 mi | 15m |
| County Road N33 | 10.3 mi | 13m |
| Union Avenue | 7 mi | 9m |
| US 71 | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| 330th Street | 5 mi | 6m |
| 120th Street | 4 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 43.6 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Lake View, 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
18 mi
·
19 min
·
I 35
6
Take the exit onto I 35 Bus
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 35 Bus
Toward Business I 35, US 30: Ames, Iowa State University, Nevada
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 Bus
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 35 Bus
Toward Business I 35, US 30 West: Ames, Iowa State University
8
Continue on US 30
44 mi
·
57 min
·
220th Street
9
Continue on US 30
10 mi
·
13 min
·
County Road N33
10
Continue on US 30
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 30
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Noble Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Noble Avenue
12
Turn left onto 180th Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
180th Street
13
Turn right onto US 71
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
US 71
14
Turn left onto 120th Street
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
120th Street
15
Turn right onto Hawthorne Avenue
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Hawthorne Avenue
16
Continue on Union Avenue
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Union Avenue
17
Turn left onto IA 175
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
330th Street
18
Arrive at destination
IA 175
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 57.9 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.6 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 25 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.9 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 2h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake View, 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 115.8 miles and 2h 32m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on 220th Street for about 43.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.9 miles from Ankeny, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 0 and 89.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
20.1 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 35 Bus
Take the exit onto I 35 Bus toward Business I 35, US 30: Ames, Iowa State University, Nevada
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Business I 35, US 30: Ames, Iowa State U...
6
20.4 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 35 Bus
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 Bus toward Business I 35, US 30 West: Ames, Iowa State University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Business I 35, US 30 West: Ames, Iowa St...
4
89.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
180th Street
Turn left onto 180th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.10 one way
$36.21 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.88 | $39.75 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.28 | $44.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.57 | $51.13 |
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: 40.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.7 | 0 | $12.16 | $5.56 |
| Efficient EV | 29 | 0 | $10.13 | $4.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.3 | 0 | $16.21 | $7.41 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 View, IA
Afternoon in Lake View on Saturday
Local time
1:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Centerville, IA
58 mi in
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
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.
What kind of drive is this?
115.8 mi in 2h 32m — 33% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: 220th Street.
33% 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: 43.6 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 32m drive. You will face about 11 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 20.1 miles (I 35 Bus): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ankeny, IA and Lake View, IA, road signs point toward Business I 35, Iowa State University and Nevada.
Business I 35
20.1 mi in
|
~24m
|
via I 35 Bus
Iowa State University
20.1 mi in
|
~24m
|
via I 35 Bus
Nevada
20.1 mi in
|
~24m
|
via I 35 Bus
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 115.8 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 (33%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.6 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.1 miles (I 35 Bus): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lake View, IA before heading back.
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.
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