Ankeny to Centerville is 98.4 miles and takes about 2h 14m via IA 5, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Iowa, making it a straightforward trip between two points in the same state. With 64% of the route on highways, you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. It's a short enough distance that you can complete it comfortably in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Plan for a simple, direct trip with minimal complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.2 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IA 5
55.2 mi
1h 11m
South Clinton Street
20.6 mi
30m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
10.7 mi
12m
I 35
4.8 mi
5m
I 80
2.6 mi
2m
West 1st Street
1.4 mi
3m
East Washington Street
0.3 mi
1m
Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
IA 5
— 55.2 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Centerville, IA.
1
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·4 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto West 1st Street
1.4 mi·3 min·West 1st Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·30 sec
Toward I-35 south: Des Moines
5
Merge onto I 35
4.7 mi·5 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
0.2 mi·12 sec·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi·2 min
Exit 137AToward I 80 East: Davenport
8
Merge onto I 80
2.6 mi·2 min·I 80
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 141Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des MoinesUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto US 65
11 mi·12 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
12
Continue on IA 5
19 mi·21 min·IA 5
13
Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92
11 mi·11 min·IA 5; IA 92
14
Take the exit onto IA 5
0.5 mi·1 min·IA 5
15
Turn right onto IA 5
26 mi·37 min·IA 5
16
Turn straight onto IA 5
21 mi·30 min·South Clinton Street
17
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East Washington Street
18
Turn left onto North 13th Street
359 ft·15 sec·North 13th Street
19
Continue on North 13th Street
302 ft·13 sec·North 13th Street
20
Arrive at destination
North 13th Street
Trip Plan
Since this 98.4-mile drive takes just over two hours, it's ideal for a same-day trip. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive in Centerville with plenty of the day left for your destination. There are no designated stops in the data, so you can choose to take a break whenever needed, perhaps around the midpoint of your 55.2-mile stretch on IA 5. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $15; it's always wise to top off before heading out, especially since the route is primarily highway driving. The transition from highway to surface roads will require your attention as you get closer to Centerville.
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 49.2 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.2 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 22 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.2 miles or 1h 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Centerville, 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.
+
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 Ankeny, IA
This is one driving day of about 98.4 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Ankeny, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 5 for about 55.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 10.2 — 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|Southwest Walnut Street
Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|West 1st Street
At end of road, turn right onto West 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
6.6 mi into trip|~9m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
8
10.2 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 141
Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.38 one way
$30.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.89
$33.78
premium
$4.89
$18.94
$37.87
diesel
$5.61
$21.73
$43.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.5
0
$10.33
$4.72
Efficient EV
24.6
0
$8.61
$3.94
EV Truck/SUV
39.4
0
$13.78
$6.30
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ankeny, IA
Late night
in Ankeny on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Centerville, IA
Late night
in Centerville on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Knoxville, IA
49 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
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 14m 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?
This drive is mostly highway, with 64% of the 98.4 miles on faster roads like IA 5 and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 55.2 miles on IA 5 before transitioning to surface streets. Expect a steady pace for a significant portion of the trip, with the latter part of the drive involving more local traffic and intersections as you approach Centerville. The change from highway cruising to town driving is noticeable.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.2 mi on IA 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 5 and South Clinton Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 98.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ankeny, IA and Centerville, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport and Des Moines.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 98.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.2 miles on IA 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Centerville, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (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 Centerville, IA before heading back.
