This straightforward 102.5-mile drive from Ankeny, IA to Avoca, IA will take you about 1 hour and 57 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, with a manageable fuel cost estimated at $16. The route stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout. Primarily utilizing I 80, this trip is ideal if you're looking for an efficient journey with minimal fuss. Given its short duration and highway focus, you won't need to worry about overnight stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.3 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
93.9 mi
1h 42m
Northwest 2nd Street
2.6 mi
3m
Southwest State Street
2.5 mi
4m
US 59
1.5 mi
3m
Southwest Ordnance Road
0.9 mi
1m
Southwest Walnut Street
0.4 mi
1m
Southwest 3rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
North Walnut Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 93.9 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Avoca, IA.
1
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·7 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Southwest Walnut Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Southwest Ordnance Road
4
Turn left onto Southwest State Street
2.5 mi·4 min·Southwest State Street
5
Continue on IA 415
2.6 mi·3 min·Northwest 2nd Street
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
7
Merge onto I 80; I 35
11 mi·12 min·I 80; I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
83 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 59: Avoca, Harlan
10
Turn straight onto US 59
1.5 mi·3 min·US 59
11
Arrive at destination
US 59
Trip Plan
For this 1-hour, 57-minute trip, starting in the morning gives you ample time to reach Avoca, IA without feeling rushed. Since the drive is under two hours and primarily on I 80, you won't necessarily need scheduled stops, but there are plenty of services along the interstate corridor if you do. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 93.9-mile stretch on I 80, to ensure a smooth journey. The flexibility of this short drive means you can depart whenever suits your schedule best.
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 51.3 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.9 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 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.3 miles or 1h 1m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Avoca, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ankeny, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ankeny, IA
This is one driving day of about 102.5 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Ankeny, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 93.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 100.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Southwest Walnut Street
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Southwest Ordnance Road
At end of road, turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road
Navigation decision point
5
6.7 mi into trip|~12m in|I 80; I 35
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
18 mi into trip|~25m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
5
100.7 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward US 59: Avoca, Harlan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 59: Avoca, Harlan
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.02 one way
$32.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.59
$35.19
premium
$4.89
$19.73
$39.45
diesel
$5.61
$22.63
$45.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.8
0
$10.76
$4.92
Efficient EV
25.6
0
$8.97
$4.10
EV Truck/SUV
41
0
$14.35
$6.56
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 20, 2026
Origin
Ankeny, IA
Late night
in Ankeny on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Avoca, IA
Late night
in Avoca on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Stuart, IA
51 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
19 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 57m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 93% of this 102.5-mile journey, mostly on I 80. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 93.9 miles on this interstate, meaning you'll be in a high-speed environment for most of the drive. While the initial and final segments involve local streets like Northwest 2nd Street and Southwest State Street, the bulk of your time will be spent on this major highway. It’s a drive that prioritizes directness over varied scenery.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.9 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Northwest 2nd Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Avoca, IA is easy. At 1h 57m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Southwest Ordnance Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 93.9 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Southwest Ordnance Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Avoca, IA before heading back.
