This straightforward 155.9-mile drive from New Hampton, IA to Ankeny, IA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 4 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 63% of the journey utilizing major roads like I-35 and Avenue of the Saints. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, this is an economical option for travelers within the Midwest. You'll likely find this drive to be efficient and direct, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without excessive time commitment. It's a solid option if you're looking for a no-fuss journey through Iowa.
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
77.9 miles from New Hampton, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 4m. Total distance: 155.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 155.9-mile route, with 63% of the drive on major roadways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is a significant 97.4 miles along I-35, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent speed. While the bulk of the journey is on these main arteries, you will also navigate segments of Avenue of the Saints and local roads like 200th Street. This mix suggests a drive that balances efficient travel with brief excursions onto less direct, though likely still well-maintained, Iowa roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 97.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Avenue of the Saints. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 18.9 miles in near Clark Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 155.9 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 18.9 miles (Clark Street): Navigation decision point; at 56.6 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 154 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
18.9 mi into trip|~28m in|Clark Street
Turn right onto Clark Street
Navigation decision point
5
56.6 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
154 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
154.2 mi into trip|~3h in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
155.9 mi into trip|~3h 4m in|Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
97.4 mi
1h 44m
Avenue of the Saints
32.9 mi
37m
200th Street
11 mi
15m
200th Avenue
5 mi
6m
Gilbert Street
2.5 mi
4m
East 1st Street
1.4 mi
3m
West Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Kenwood Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 97.4 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Hampton, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on US 63 Business
52 ft·8 sec·South Linn Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West Main Street
3
Continue on 210th Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·210th Street
4
Turn right onto Kenwood Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Kenwood Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 18
11 mi·15 min·200th Street
6
Continue on US 18
5.0 mi·6 min·200th Avenue
7
Continue on US 18
0.3 mi·49 sec·5th Avenue
8
Turn straight onto US 18
0.7 mi·1 min·4th Avenue
9
Continue on US 18
0.1 mi·25 sec·Brantingham Street
10
Turn right onto Clark Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·Clark Street
11
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·North Main Street
12
Turn right onto US 218 Business
2.5 mi·4 min·Gilbert Street
13
Turn straight onto US 218 Business
0.2 mi·13 sec·185th Street
14
Take the ramp onto US 218 Business
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 218 Business
15
Merge onto US 18; US 218; IA 27
33 mi·37 min·Avenue of the Saints
16
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
17
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·32 sec·this road
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
18
Merge onto I 35
97 mi·1 hr 44 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 92Toward 1st Street
20
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft·9 sec
21
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi·3 min·East 1st Street
22
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
23
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·2 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
24
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 3-hour duration, this trip from New Hampton to Ankeny is best tackled in one go. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps in the morning to make the most of your destination day. With only one major stretch of 97.4 miles on I-35, plan for one main stop roughly halfway through for fuel or a break. The estimated fuel cost of $24 makes budgeting straightforward. Keep an eye out for the transition from the Avenue of the Saints onto I-35, as this is where the character of the drive shifts most noticeably.
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 77.9 miles from New Hampton, IA, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.4 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 34 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.9 miles or 1h 37m 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 31m
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 New Hampton, 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 New Hampton, IA
This is one driving day of about 155.9 miles and 3h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from New Hampton, 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 35 for about 97.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 77.9 mi from New Hampton, IA
· 1h 37m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.15 one way
$46.29 round trip
$3.77/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.25
$26.10
$52.21
premium
$4.65
$28.57
$57.13
diesel
$5.30
$32.55
$65.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.8
0
$16.37
$7.48
Efficient EV
39
0
$13.64
$6.24
EV Truck/SUV
62.4
0
$21.83
$9.98
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 15, 2026
Origin
New Hampton, IA
Late night
in New Hampton on Saturday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Late night
in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
1 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 4m 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 New Hampton, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 155.9 miles and takes about 3h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, Avenue of the Saints, 200th 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 77.9 miles from New Hampton, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.15 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 155.9 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 18.9 miles (Clark Street): Navigation decision point; at 56.6 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 154 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from New Hampton, IA to Ankeny, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
