How far is Sergeant Bluff, IA from Ankeny, IA?

The driving distance from Sergeant Bluff, IA to Ankeny, IA is about 200.9 miles (323.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 148.7 miles (239.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
200.9 mi
03h 09m
Flight
148.68 mi
239.27 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sergeant Bluff.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
148.68 mi
Kilometers
239.27 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
200.9 mi
Kilometers
323.31 km
Drive Time
03h 09m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ankeny
Wed, Apr 29, 9:18 PM CDT
Return by in Sergeant Bluff
Thu, Apr 30, 12:28 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sergeant Bluff
2026-04-29T18:08
Arrive Ankeny
Wed, Apr 29, 9:18 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:10 AM to 11:10 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:40 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sergeant Bluff
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Avoca
IA

City in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States of America

From Sergeant Bluff
100.9 mi
01h 34m
To Ankeny
100 mi
01h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
37°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 3:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
43°F
Overnight

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Sergeant Bluff and Ankeny.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sergeant Bluff and Ankeny.

  1. 1

    Start on 4th Street

    37 m · 11 sec · 4th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto E Street

    1273 ft · 58 sec · E Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto 1st Street

    2524 ft · 1 min · 1st Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto I 29 South

    1849 ft · 45 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    69.3 mi · 1 hr 14 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 880 East: Des Moines

    1.2 km · 2 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    16 mi · 17 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Des Moines

    1.1 km · 44 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight right

    94.9 mi · 1 hr 42 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City

    12.5 mi · 15 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 415: Polk City

    1915 ft · 49 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Northwest 2nd Street

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Northwest 2nd Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Southwest State Street

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Southwest State Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · Southwest Ordnance Road

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street

    1897 ft · 1 min · Southwest Walnut Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Southwest 3rd Street

    15 m · 2 sec · Southwest 3rd Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Southwest 3rd Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Sergeant Bluff and Ankeny.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
17 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 East
95.6 mi · 48%
I 29 South
69.6 mi · 35%
I 880 East
16.8 mi · 8%
I 35
12.5 mi · 6%
Northwest 2nd Street
2.75 mi · 1%
Southwest State Street
2.51 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 80 East

Merge slight right

94.9 mi · 01h 42m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 09m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52.2 mi
148.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Avoca
01h 34m from Sergeant Bluff
Leave By
10:40 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Sergeant Bluff and Chance Rain Showers near Ankeny.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sergeant Bluff to Ankeny?

The road trip is about 200.9 miles (323.3 km) and usually takes 03h 09m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Avoca is a useful midpoint, sitting about 100.9 miles from Sergeant Bluff and 100 miles from Ankeny.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 148.7 miles (239.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:40 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.74 one way or $53.47 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 63 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Sergeant Bluff and Chance Rain Showers near Ankeny.

Stop Ideas Near Avoca

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Avoca, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Avoca.

RAIL

Omaha

55 mi away
1003 S. 9th Street
RAIL

Creston

94 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sergeant Bluff and Ankeny. Straight-line distance: 148.68 mi (239.27 km).

Sergeant Bluff

#1 Sergeant Bluff

City in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States of America

Population5,119
Coordinates42.4038800, -96.3586400
Altitude334
CountryUnited States
Ankeny

#2 Ankeny

The most populous city in Polk County, Iowa.

Population70,068
Coordinates41.7297100, -93.6057700
Altitude302
CountryUnited States
Start: 4th Street (-96.35864, 42.40386)
End: Southwest 3rd Street (-93.60577, 41.72962)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 323 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.09 gal
26.83 L · about $26.74
Round trip
$53.47
14.18 gal · 53.66 L
Estimated CO2
63 kg one way
Round trip: 126 kg / 278 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.74 $53.47
Mid-grade $4.25 $30.15 $60.31
Premium $4.65 $33.00 $65.99
Diesel $5.30 $37.61 $75.21

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Iowa · Apr 29, 2026

There is no time difference between Sergeant Bluff and Ankeny. The current time is 18:08:21.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.