Origin
Albia, IA
Morning in Albia on Tuesday
Local time
7:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Albia, IA to Ankeny, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
75.7 mi
122 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 33m
★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 45m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 54m
8 PM
1h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albia, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Albia, IA to Ankeny, IA is 75.7 miles and takes about 1h 40m via IA 5, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically across Iowa, offering a straightforward journey for a single day. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B. If you're looking for a quick and uncomplicated connection between these two Iowa locations, this route is a solid choice. The total distance is manageable, and the estimated fuel cost is quite low.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.9 miles from Albia, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 5 | 35.9 mi | 49m |
| State Highway 5 | 18.2 mi | 20m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| I 35 | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| East 1st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| I 80 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
IA 5
— 35.9 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albia, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on this road
31 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
170 ft
·
12 sec
·
South 2nd Street
3
Turn left onto CR H35
356 ft
·
9 sec
·
Benton Avenue East
4
Turn right onto IA 5
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Main Street
5
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 5
25 mi
·
37 min
·
IA 5
6
Take the ramp onto IA 5
11 mi
·
12 min
·
IA 5
7
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
8
Continue on IA 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 5
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
10
Merge onto US 65
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
11
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
12
Merge onto I 80
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
15
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 North: Minneapolis
16
Merge onto I 35
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
I 35
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward 1st Street
18
Keep slight left at fork
256 ft
·
8 sec
Toward High Trestle Trail
Use the left lane.
19
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
20
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
21
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
22
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just under two hours, this trip is easily completed in a single day, so you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Packing snacks and drinks is a good idea, as there are no designated stops mentioned in the data, and you'll want to stay comfortable during the 75.7-mile journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially considering the longest stretch without a break is nearly 36 miles on IA 5, and the estimated fuel cost is around $12. It's a simple drive, so focus on enjoying the straightforward travel between Albia and Ankeny.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.9 miles from Albia, IA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.9 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.9 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
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 Albia, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albia, IA
This is one driving day of about 75.7 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Albia, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 5 for about 35.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.9 miles from Albia, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 74 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR H35 / Benton Avenue East
Turn left onto CR H35 / Benton Avenue East
Navigation decision point
5
65.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
7
67.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
6
69 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35 toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
8
74 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward High Trestle Trail
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward High Trestle Trail
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.83 one way
$23.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.99 | $25.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.57 | $29.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.71 | $33.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.95 | $3.63 |
| Efficient EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.62 | $3.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.60 | $4.84 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Morning in Ankeny on Tuesday
Local time
7:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Altoona, IA
38 mi in
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
3 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
1h 40m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 79% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience stretches that are more about covering ground efficiently, particularly the longest stretch of 35.9 miles on IA 5. While the primary roads include State Highway 5 and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway, the feel is generally that of a quicker, more direct path. Expect a consistent driving experience for the majority of the journey, without significant shifts in road type or complexity.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.9 mi on IA 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 5 and State Highway 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR H35 / Benton Avenue East.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.7 miles you will encounter 16 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: near the start (CR H35 / Benton Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 65.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 67.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Ankeny, IA
Full guide →Ankeny is a suburb of Des Moines in Central Iowa.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 75.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.9 miles on IA 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Ankeny, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR H35 / Benton Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 65.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 67.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ankeny, IA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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