Ankeny to Denver is 128.8 miles and takes about 2h 35m via US 20 and I 35, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip entirely within the Midwest, connecting two points in Iowa. Given its relatively short distance and highway-centric profile, it's an easy day trip. Expect a mostly efficient drive that bypasses extensive city centers, making it a practical choice for a quick relocation or visit.
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
64.4 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
53.9 mi
1h 2m
I 35
49.3 mi
53m
Logan Avenue
6.9 mi
8m
University Avenue
3.5 mi
4m
West Airline Highway
3 mi
5m
Avenue of the Saints
2.7 mi
3m
West 1st Street
1.5 mi
3m
Larrabee Avenue
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 53.9 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Denver, 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
1.5 mi·3 min·West 1st Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
5
Merge onto I 35
49 mi·53 min·I 35
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
7
Merge onto US 20
54 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 20
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward CR D18: Cedar Falls
9
Turn left onto Grundy Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Grundy Road
10
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi·4 min·University Avenue
11
Enter roundabout onto Greenhill Road
8 ft·0 sec·Greenhill Road
12
Continue on Greenhill Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Greenhill Road
13
Turn left onto IA 27; IA 58
2.7 mi·3 min·Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 185Toward US 218 South: WaterlooUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto US 218
0.7 mi·48 sec·Leo P Rooff Expressway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward Broadway Street: Airport
17
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
0.3 mi·35 sec·Airport Boulevard
18
Turn right onto West Airline Highway
3.0 mi·5 min·West Airline Highway
19
Turn left onto US 63
6.9 mi·8 min·Logan Avenue
20
Continue on US 63
1.3 mi·1 min·Larrabee Avenue
21
Turn right onto State Street
0.8 mi·1 min·State Street
22
Turn left onto CR C50
40 ft·0 sec·West Fayette Street
23
Arrive at destination
CR C50
Trip Plan
For this 1-day trip, leaving Ankeny in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Denver without feeling rushed. The drive is short enough that you can be flexible with your departure. With a fuel cost estimated around $20, planning your fill-up before you leave Ankeny is a good idea. The longest stretch without a major town is 53.9 miles on US 20, so ensure you have any snacks or amenities you might want before heading out on that segment.
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 64.4 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.9 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.4 miles or 1h 13m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Denver, 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 128.8 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 US 20 for about 53.9 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 114.6 — 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
4
51.3 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East: Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
5
110.7 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|Greenhill Road
Enter roundabout onto Greenhill Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
114.6 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward US 218 South: Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 185
Toward US 218 South: Waterloo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.14 one way
$40.27 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.11
$44.22
premium
$4.89
$24.79
$49.57
diesel
$5.61
$28.44
$56.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.6
0
$13.52
$6.18
Efficient EV
32.2
0
$11.27
$5.15
EV Truck/SUV
51.5
0
$18.03
$8.24
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 15, 2026
Origin
Ankeny, IA
Late night
in Ankeny on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Denver, IA
Late night
in Denver on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
23 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
2h 35m 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 predominantly on highways, with 81% of the route utilizing them. You'll experience a long stretch of 53.9 miles on US 20, offering a good amount of rural cruising. The transition to surface roads, like Logan Avenue, will likely occur as you approach your destination, bringing a change in pace with more local traffic and intersections.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.9 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35. You will hit about 16 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 Effort5/10
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 128.8 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 (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 51.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Denver, IA, road signs point toward Cr D18: Cedar Falls and Broadway Street: Airport.
Cr D18: Cedar Falls
105.7 mi in|~2h 1m
Broadway Street: Airport
116.2 mi in|~2h 17m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 35m. Total distance: 128.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.9 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 51.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Denver, IA before heading back.
