The drive from Ankeny, IA to Hartley, IA covers 199.3 miles and takes about 4h 6m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, I 35, US 71 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 81.3 miles on US 20.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.16 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
99.6 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 6m. Total distance: 199.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 4h 6m highway drive covering 199.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and I 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 81.3 miles on US 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 81.3 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,471 ft939 ft
Total Climb
763 ft
Total Descent
285 ft
Highest Point
1,471 ft
~199.3 mi in
Elevation Range
532 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 6m drive. You will face about 14 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 14 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
5
133.2 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm...
5
133.6 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|US 71
Turn right onto US 71
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight 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 Hartley, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Storm Lake along the way.
Storm Lake
133.2 mi in|~2h 33m|via US 71
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
81.3 mi
1h 33m
I 35
49.6 mi
53m
US 71
45.6 mi
1h 3m
320th Street
12.5 mi
17m
180th Avenue
2.8 mi
4m
360th Street
1.6 mi
2m
West 1st Street
1.5 mi
3m
West 4th Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 81.3 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Hartley, 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
81 mi·1 hr 33 min·US 20
8
Take the exit onto US 71
0.4 mi·57 sec·US 71
Toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm Lake
9
Turn right onto US 71
45 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 71
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left onto 360th Street
1.6 mi·2 min·360th Street
11
Turn right onto 200th Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·200th Avenue
12
Continue on 32nd Avenue West
0.3 mi·32 sec·32nd Avenue West
13
Turn left onto West 4th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·West 4th Street
14
Continue on B24
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road B24
15
Turn right onto 180th Avenue
2.8 mi·4 min·180th Avenue
16
Turn left onto US 18
12 mi·17 min·320th Street
17
Turn left onto North Central Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·North Central Avenue
18
Turn left onto 1st Street Southeast
26 ft·1 sec·1st Street Southeast
19
Arrive at destination
1st Street Southeast
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 99.6 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.3 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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.6 miles or 1h 54m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hartley, 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 199.3 miles and 4h 6m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 81.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 99.6 mi from Ankeny, IA
· 1h 54m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.8
0
$20.93
$9.57
Efficient EV
49.8
0
$17.44
$7.97
EV Truck/SUV
79.7
0
$27.90
$12.76
Gas CO2
70 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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Ankeny, IA
Morning
in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
8:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hartley, IA
Morning
in Hartley on Saturday
Local time
8:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 15 mph37% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:22AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:22AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
7 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
4h 6m 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 Hartley, IA covers 199.3 miles and takes about 4h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, I 35, US 71. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 99.6 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 $31.16 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.
This is a straightforward 4h 6m drive. You will face about 14 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.
On the drive from Ankeny, IA to Hartley, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Storm Lake along the way.
