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The 3 places worth the trip
Places near Ankeny by type
All 273 places by distance →One day from Ankeny
5 stops, one loop, back by 3:30 pm
80 km on the road, in driving order so you don’t double back. Times assume an 8 am start and typical visit lengths.
- Leave Ankeny
- Big Creek State Parknature spot · 2 hrs
- Big Creek Schoolhouseheritage site · 1.5 hrs
- Saylorville Lake Projectlake · 45 min
- Trinity Las Americas United Methodist Churchchurch · 30 min
- Dragon Slayertemple · 45 min
- Back in Ankeny
Questions people ask
What are the best places to visit near Ankeny?
Saylorville Lake Project (lake, about 11 km), Big Creek Schoolhouse (heritage site, about 13 km), Dragon Slayer (temple, about 15 km), Adventureland Resort (park, about 15 km), Big Creek Diversion Dam (dam, about 16 km), Trinity Las Americas United Methodist Church (church, about 17 km).
How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Ankeny?
257 places on Spotwander: 123 forts & heritage, 46 churches, 33 parks, 17 museums, 11 wildlife, forests & gardens.
Which is the nearest fort to Ankeny?
Ankeny Veteran's Memorial, about 1 km by road; Eric Jacobs Memorial (2 km) is next.
Which is the nearest church to Ankeny?
Ankeny First United Methodist Church, about 1 km by road; Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (1 km) is next.
What is a good one-day trip from Ankeny?
Start in Ankeny, visit Big Creek State Park, then Big Creek Schoolhouse, then Saylorville Lake Project, then Trinity Las Americas United Methodist Church, then Dragon Slayer, and drive back — about 80 km by road in all.




















