Origin
Ankeny, IA
Evening in Ankeny on Wednesday
Local time
8:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ankeny, IA to Arnolds Park, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 7m
Distance
197.4 mi
318 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 54m
★
6 AM
4h 7m
8 AM
4h 33m
10 AM
4h 16m
12 PM
4h 14m
3 PM
4h 18m
5 PM
4h 32m
8 PM
3h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Arnolds Park, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Arnolds Park, IA covers 197.4 miles and takes about 4h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Southwest Walnut Street, West 1st Street, US 20 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.86 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
98.7 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 7m drive with frequent turns across 197.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southwest Walnut Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 7m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ankeny, IA to Arnolds Park, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Walnut Street | — | — |
| West 1st Street | — | — |
| US 20 West | — | — |
| US 71 NORTH | — | — |
| 11th Street Southwest | — | — |
| 4th Avenue Southwest | — | — |
| 4th Street Southwest | — | — |
| South Grand Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Southwest Walnut Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Arnolds Park, IA.
1
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
49 ft
·
4 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto West 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West 1st Street
4
Take the ramp slight left
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
5
Merge slight left
50 mi
·
53 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 20 West: Fort Dodge
7
Merge slight left
81 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm Lake
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm Lake
9
Turn right
45 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
10
Turn right onto 11th Street Southwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
11th Street Southwest
11
Turn left onto 4th Avenue Southwest
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
4th Avenue Southwest
12
At the end of the road, turn right onto 4th Street Southwest
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
4th Street Southwest
13
Turn left onto South Grand Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Grand Avenue
14
Turn left onto West 2nd Street
390 ft
·
10 sec
·
West 2nd Street
15
Turn right onto 1st Avenue West
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
1st Avenue West
16
At the end of the road, turn right onto West 8th Street
384 ft
·
15 sec
·
West 8th Street
17
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue
18
Continue on Highway Boulevard
15 mi
·
22 min
·
Highway Boulevard
19
Turn right onto Linden Drive
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Linden Drive
20
Turn left onto Iowa Street
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
Iowa Street
21
Turn right onto Kruse Beach
125 ft
·
6 sec
·
Kruse Beach
22
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 98.7 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
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 43 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.7 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arnolds Park, 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 197.4 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 98.7 mi from Ankeny, IA · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 98.7 miles from Ankeny, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Arnolds Park, IA
The final approach into Arnolds Park, 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 Arnolds Park, 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
$30.86 one way
$61.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $33.88 | $67.77 |
| premium | $4.89 | $37.99 | $75.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.58 | $87.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.2 | 0 | $20.73 | $9.48 |
| Efficient EV | 49.4 | 0 | $17.27 | $7.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79 | 0 | $27.64 | $12.63 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Arnolds Park, IA
Evening in Arnolds Park on Wednesday
Local time
8:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
23 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 7m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Arnolds Park, IA covers 197.4 miles and takes about 4h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southwest Walnut Street, West 1st Street, US 20 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 98.7 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 $30.86 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 7m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ankeny, IA to Arnolds Park, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Ankeny, IA to Arnolds Park, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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