Ankeny to George is 235.8 miles and takes about 4h 55m via US 20 and I 35, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest region. Given its relatively short distance and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward drive. You'll likely find it a convenient option for a single-day excursion between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
117.9 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
92.8 mi
1h 47m
I 35
49.6 mi
53m
20th Avenue
9.2 mi
12m
State Highway 3
8.8 mi
12m
IA 60
7.1 mi
8m
320th Street
6.3 mi
8m
Armstrong Avenue
6 mi
8m
D Avenue
5.7 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 92.8 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and George, 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
50 mi·53 min·I 35
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
7
Merge onto US 20
93 mi·1 hr 47 min·US 20
8
Turn right onto CR M27
6.0 mi·8 min·Armstrong Avenue
9
Continue on CR M27
9.2 mi·12 min·20th Avenue
10
Turn left onto IA 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 7
11
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi·2 min·State Highway 7
12
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi·2 min·1st Street
13
Continue on IA 7
1.9 mi·2 min·V Avenue
14
Turn left onto IA 3
0.2 mi·22 sec·State Highway 3
15
Turn straight onto IA 3
3.1 mi·4 min·530th Street
16
Turn right onto IA 3
4.5 mi·6 min·State Highway 3
17
Continue on IA 3
2.5 mi·3 min·500th Street
18
Continue on IA 3
4.2 mi·5 min·State Highway 3
19
Continue on IA 3
5.0 mi·7 min·490th Street
20
Turn right onto IA 143
1.3 mi·2 min·Ames Avenue
21
Continue on IA 143
5.7 mi·7 min·D Avenue
22
Continue on IA 143
5.0 mi·6 min·Nettle Avenue
23
Turn left onto IA 10
3.5 mi·4 min·460th Street
24
Continue on IA 10
0.5 mi·1 min·Garfield Street
25
Continue on IA 10
1.0 mi·1 min·460th Street
26
Turn right onto L22
5.5 mi·7 min·Log Avenue
27
Turn right onto IA 60
7.1 mi·8 min·IA 60
28
Take the exit onto IA 60 Business
0.3 mi·43 sec·IA 60 Business
Toward CR L26, IA 60 Business: 2nd Avenue
29
Turn left onto IA 60 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue
30
Turn left onto CR B20
360 ft·9 sec·West 16th Street
31
Turn right onto CR L26
1.0 mi·1 min·Western Avenue
32
At end of road, turn left onto US 18
0.3 mi·27 sec·320th Street
33
Continue on US 18
0.7 mi·58 sec·West Park Street
34
Continue on US 18
6.0 mi·8 min·320th Street
35
Turn right onto CR L14
0.5 mi·1 min·Colfax Street
36
Continue on CR L14
3.8 mi·5 min·Kennedy Avenue
37
Continue on L14
5.7 mi·8 min·L14
38
Continue on South Virginia Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Virginia Street
39
Turn left onto East Boiler Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·East Boiler Avenue
40
Turn right onto South Main Street
377 ft·16 sec·South Main Street
41
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under five hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day, so you can leave anytime that suits you. Consider leaving in the morning to have ample daylight for the drive and to arrive with plenty of time to settle in. The longest stretch without a major break is 92.8 miles on US 20, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that longer segment, as services might be more spaced out.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 117.9 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.8 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 52 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.9 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near George, 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 235.8 miles and 4h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 92.8 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 215.6 — 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
51.6 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
4
144.7 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue
Turn right onto CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
215.6 mi into trip|~4h 24m in|IA 60 Business
Take the exit onto IA 60 Business toward CR L26, IA 60 Business: 2nd Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CR L26, IA 60 Business: 2nd Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.82 one way
$77.65 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$41.46
$82.92
premium
$5.08
$47.19
$94.38
diesel
$6.07
$56.35
$112.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.7
0
$24.76
$11.32
Efficient EV
59
0
$20.63
$9.43
EV Truck/SUV
94.3
1
$33.01
$15.09
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Ankeny, IA
Morning
in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
7:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
NW 10 to 21 mph46% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:12AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 3:47AM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
George, IA
Morning
in George on Saturday
Local time
7:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
NNW 10 to 25 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:12AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 3:47AM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
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
1 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
4h 55m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 route is mostly highway, with 69% of the drive on major roads like US 20 and I 35. Expect a long stretch of 92.8 miles on US 20 before you transition to more local roads. The latter part of the drive will involve fewer exits and more rural cruising as you approach your destination.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.8 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 55m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,457 ft912 ft
Total Climb
635 ft
Total Descent
243 ft
Highest Point
1,457 ft
~185.2 mi in
Elevation Range
545 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 George, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Cr L26 along the way.
The longest stretch is about 92.8 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at George, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
