Drive Time
5h 31m
Distance
266.1 mi
428 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
Photo: Gatsby Yang
The drive from Indiana, IA to Lake Park, IA covers 266.1 miles and takes about 5h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on County Highway G76, Highway 5, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.42 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
133.1 miles from Indiana, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 45m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 31m drive with frequent turns across 266.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 31m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Indiana, IA to Lake Park, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| County Highway G76 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 5 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-35 north | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-35 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 20 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Indiana, IA and Lake Park, IA.
Start on County Highway G76
Continue on County Highway G76
Turn sharp left
Take the ramp left
Turn right
Continue on State Highway 5
Take the exit slight right
Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Continue on I-35 north: Minneapolis
Continue on I-35 North: Minneapolis
Merge slight left onto I 35 North: Minneapolis
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward IA 471 South, US 71 NORTH: Early, Storm Lake
Turn right
Turn right onto 11th Street Southwest
Turn left onto 4th Avenue Southwest
At the end of the road, turn right onto 4th Street Southwest
Turn left onto South Grand Avenue
Turn left onto West 2nd Street
Turn right onto 1st Avenue West
At the end of the road, turn right onto West 8th Street
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
Continue on Highway Boulevard
Turn left onto State Highway 86
Turn left onto 150th Street
Turn right onto 135th Avenue
Continue on South Market Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.1 miles or 2h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Park, IA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Indiana, 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 Indiana, IA
This is one driving day of about 266.1 miles and 5h 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 133.1 mi from Indiana, IA · 2h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
133 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 133.1 miles from Indiana, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Lake 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 Lake Park, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$40.42 one way
$80.84 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $44.56 | $89.11 |
| premium | $4.80 | $50.23 | $100.47 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $59.12 | $118.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79.8 | 0 | $27.94 | $12.77 |
| Efficient EV | 66.5 | 0 | $23.28 | $10.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 106.4 | 1 | $37.25 | $17.03 |
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Indiana on Sunday
Local time
8:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Lake Park on Sunday
Local time
8:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
42°F
Ames, IA
133 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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