Origin
Le Mars, IA
Afternoon in Le Mars on Sunday
Local time
2:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Le Mars, IA to Ankeny, IA
Drive Time
3h 19m
Distance
207.6 mi
334 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
Le Mars, IA
Zelch Csaba
Ankeny, IA
András Nyemczovszky
Trip Overview
The drive from Le Mars, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 207.6 miles and takes about 3h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 5th Avenue Northeast, Lincoln Street Northeast, Highway 3 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.53 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
103.8 miles from Le Mars, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 19m drive with frequent turns across 207.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
5th Avenue Northeast 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 19m 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 Le Mars, IA to Ankeny, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 5th Avenue Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lincoln Street Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 3 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road K64 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Oyens Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| C 60 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road C66 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 310th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
5th Avenue Northeast
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Le Mars, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on 1st Street Northeast
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street Northeast
2
Turn left onto 5th Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
5th Avenue Northeast
3
Continue on Lincoln Street Northeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Street Northeast
4
Continue on State Highway 3
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 3
5
Turn right onto County Road K64
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
County Road K64
6
Continue on Oyens Avenue
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Oyens Avenue
7
Turn left onto C 60
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
C 60
8
Turn right onto County Road C66
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
County Road C66
9
Continue on 310th Street
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
310th Street
10
Turn straight onto County Highway C66
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway C66
11
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
Main Street
12
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 3rd Street
13
Continue on 320th Street
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
320th Street
14
Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Shamrock Avenue
15
Continue on Lee Avenue
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Lee Avenue
16
Turn left onto Highway 20
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Highway 20
17
Continue on United States Highway 20
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
United States Highway 20
18
Continue on 220th Street
93 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
220th Street
19
Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South: Des Moines
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35 South: Des Moines
20
Merge slight left
49 mi
·
53 min
21
Take the exit slight right toward 1st Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
1st Street
22
Keep slight right
302 ft
·
9 sec
23
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
24
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
25
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
49 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
26
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 103.8 miles from Le Mars, IA, or about 1h 39m 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 80 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.8 miles or 1h 39m 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 43m
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 Le Mars, 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 Le Mars, IA
This is one driving day of about 207.6 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Le Mars, 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 103.8 mi from Le Mars, IA · 1h 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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 103.8 miles from Le Mars, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.53 one way
$63.06 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $34.76 | $69.52 |
| premium | $4.80 | $39.19 | $78.38 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $46.12 | $92.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.3 | 0 | $21.80 | $9.96 |
| Efficient EV | 51.9 | 0 | $18.17 | $8.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83 | 1 | $29.06 | $13.29 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Ankeny, IA
Afternoon in Ankeny on Sunday
Local time
2:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°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
2 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 19m 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 Le Mars, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 207.6 miles and takes about 3h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 5th Avenue Northeast, Lincoln Street Northeast, Highway 3. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 103.8 miles from Le Mars, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.53 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 19m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Le Mars, IA to Ankeny, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Le Mars, IA to Ankeny, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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