Origin
Storm Lake, IA
Night in Storm Lake on Wednesday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Storm Lake, IA to Ankeny, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 56m
Distance
147.3 mi
237 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 45m
★
6 AM
2h 57m
8 AM
3h 19m
10 AM
3h 5m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 6m
5 PM
3h 18m
8 PM
2h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Storm Lake, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Storm Lake, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 147.3 miles and takes about 2h 56m 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, 130th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 80.8 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.03 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
73.6 miles from Storm Lake, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 56m highway drive covering 147.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and I 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 80.8 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 14 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 80.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 14.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 147.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 14.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 96.2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
14.4 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East: Fort Dodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 East: Fort Dodge
5
96.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
145.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 51m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
145.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
147.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 56m in
|
Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 80.8 mi | 1h 33m |
| I 35 | 49.1 mi | 53m |
| 130th Avenue | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| West Lakeshore Drive | 3.1 mi | 7m |
| East 1st Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| US 71 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Grand Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 80.8 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Storm Lake, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Grand Avenue
2
Continue on West Lakeshore Drive
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
West Lakeshore Drive
3
Continue on US 71
11 mi
·
14 min
·
130th Avenue
4
Continue on IA 471
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 71
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Toward US 20 East: Fort Dodge
6
Merge onto US 20; US 71
81 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
US 20; US 71
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
8
Merge onto I 35
49 mi
·
53 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
10
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft
·
9 sec
11
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
12
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
13
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
14
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.6 miles from Storm Lake, IA, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.8 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 32 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.6 miles or 1h 32m 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 25m
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 Storm Lake, 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 Storm Lake, IA
This is one driving day of about 147.3 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Storm Lake, 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 80.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.6 mi from Storm Lake, IA · 1h 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 73.6 miles from Storm Lake, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.8 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.03 one way
$46.06 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.28 | $50.57 |
| premium | $4.89 | $28.35 | $56.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.52 | $65.04 |
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: 51.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.2 | 0 | $15.47 | $7.07 |
| Efficient EV | 36.8 | 0 | $12.89 | $5.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.9 | 0 | $20.62 | $9.43 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Night in Ankeny on Wednesday
Local time
11:20 PM
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 56m 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 Storm Lake, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 147.3 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, I 35, 130th Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.6 miles from Storm Lake, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.03 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 147.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 14.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 96.2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Storm Lake, IA to Ankeny, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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