Origin
Hamburg, IA
Late night in Hamburg on Wednesday
Local time
5:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hamburg, IA to Ankeny, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 27m
Distance
186.1 mi
299 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 15m
★
6 AM
3h 28m
8 AM
3h 52m
10 AM
3h 36m
12 PM
3h 34m
3 PM
3h 37m
5 PM
3h 51m
8 PM
3h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hamburg, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Hamburg, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 186.1 miles and takes about 3h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, I 29, Northwest 2nd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 130.7 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.09 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
93 miles from Hamburg, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 27m highway drive covering 186.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and I 29. The longest continuous stretch is about 130.7 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 130.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near IA 333 / North Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 27m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (IA 333 / North Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 166.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 333 / North Street
Turn right onto IA 333 / North Street
Navigation decision point
5
47.9 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 48A
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
9
166.7 mi into trip
|
~3h in
|
I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
7
179.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 15m in
Take the exit toward IA 415: Polk City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 135
Toward IA 415: Polk City
4
184.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 24m in
|
Southwest Ordnance Road
Turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hamburg, IA and Ankeny, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
Minneapolis
166.7 mi in
|
~3h
|
via I 80
Kansas City
166.7 mi in
|
~3h
|
via I 80
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 130.7 mi | 2h 21m |
| I 29 | 46.4 mi | 49m |
| Northwest 2nd Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Southwest State Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Southwest Ordnance Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| State Highway 333 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 130.7 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hamburg, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto IA 333
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Street
3
Continue on IA 333
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
State Highway 333
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
5
Merge onto I 29
46 mi
·
49 min
·
I 29
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 48A
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
7
Continue on I 80; US 6
118 mi
·
2 hr 6 min
·
I 80; US 6
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
12 mi
·
14 min
·
I 80
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 135
Toward IA 415: Polk City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto IA 415
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
11
Continue on IA 415
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Southwest State Street
12
Turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Ordnance Road
13
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Walnut Street
14
Turn right onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
15
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
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 93 miles from Hamburg, IA, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.7 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93 miles or 1h 41m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ankeny, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hamburg, 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 Hamburg, IA
This is one driving day of about 186.1 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hamburg, 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 80 for about 130.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 93 mi from Hamburg, IA · 1h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 93 miles from Hamburg, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 130.7 miles.
Arriving in Ankeny, IA
The final approach into Ankeny, 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 Ankeny, 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
$29.09 one way
$58.19 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $31.94 | $63.89 |
| premium | $4.89 | $35.81 | $71.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.09 | $82.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.8 | 0 | $19.54 | $8.93 |
| Efficient EV | 46.5 | 0 | $16.28 | $7.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.4 | 0 | $26.05 | $11.91 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Ankeny, IA
Late night in Ankeny on Wednesday
Local time
5:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Denison, IA
93 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
22 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
3h 27m 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 Hamburg, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 186.1 miles and takes about 3h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 29, Northwest 2nd Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 93 miles from Hamburg, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.09 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 27m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (IA 333 / North Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 166.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Hamburg, IA and Ankeny, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
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