Ankeny, IA to Columbus Junction, IA is 148.3 miles and takes about 2h 51m via I 80 and State Highway 92, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Iowa. Given its relatively short duration and mostly highway profile, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion. You’ll cover a significant portion of the drive on major interstates before transitioning to state highways, making for a straightforward drive. Plan for a fuel cost around $24, which is quite reasonable for the distance covered.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.1 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
100.7 mi
1h 48m
Avenue of the Saints
29.3 mi
33m
State Highway 92
8.8 mi
13m
I 35
4.8 mi
5m
West 1st Street
1.4 mi
3m
Oak Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
<1m
2nd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 100.7 mi, about 1h 48m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,174 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,606
Quietest
2 AM
~206 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Columbus Junction, 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
101 mi·1 hr 48 min·I 80
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward US 218 South, IA 27 South: Mount Pleasant, Keokuk
11
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
29 mi·33 min·Avenue of the Saints
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·52 sec
13
Turn right onto IA 92
8.8 mi·13 min·State Highway 92
14
Continue on IA 92
0.4 mi·41 sec·Oak Street
15
Turn left onto 2nd Street
424 ft·22 sec·2nd Street
16
Turn right onto Walnut Street
279 ft·5 sec·Walnut Street
17
Arrive at destination
Walnut Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 3 hours, this route offers a lot of flexibility for when you depart. Leaving in the morning allows ample time for any unexpected delays or a brief stop. The longest stretch without a clear stopping point is over 100 miles on I 80, so be sure to refuel before you begin that segment if your tank is low. The fuel cost is estimated at $24, so factor that into your budget. Since it's a single-day trip, you can easily adjust your schedule based on traffic or your preference for a leisurely pace.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.1 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.7 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.1 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbus Junction, 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 148.3 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Ankeny, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 100.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Home stretch
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
$10 to $20
Conesville, Iowa
Hours: 5–9 pm
+13197256891
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 108.8 — 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...
6
108.8 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 218 South, IA 27 South: Mount Pleasant, Keokuk
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218 South, IA 27 South: Mount Pleasan...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.99 one way
$45.98 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$25.21
$50.42
premium
$4.93
$28.77
$57.55
diesel
$5.60
$32.69
$65.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.5
0
$15.57
$7.12
Efficient EV
37.1
0
$12.98
$5.93
EV Truck/SUV
59.3
0
$20.76
$9.49
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 Sep 4, 2026
Origin
Ankeny, IA
Evening
in Ankeny on Friday
Local time
5:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbus Junction, IA
Evening
in Columbus Junction on Friday
Local time
5:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Brooklyn, IA
74 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
26 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 51m 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 77% of the 148.3 miles on high-speed roads like I 80. You'll experience a long stretch of 100.7 miles on I 80 before you start seeing more exits and transition to surface roads. Expect a cruising speed for the majority of your travel time, with the pace changing as you move onto State Highway 92. The overall feel is one of efficient travel with fewer interruptions for most of the trip.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.7 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Avenue of the Saints. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 148.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 (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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
993 ft605 ft
Total Climb
256 ft
Total Descent
644 ft
Highest Point
993 ft
Elevation Range
388 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ankeny, IA to Columbus Junction, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Keokuk along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 148.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 100.7 miles on I 80. 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 Columbus Junction, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 Columbus Junction, IA before heading back.
