Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 31m
Distance
181.4 mi
292 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Moville, IA
Santiago Boada
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Moville, IA covers 181.4 miles and takes about 3h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, I 35, West 1st Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 128.6 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.12 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
90.7 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 128.6 mi | 2h 29m |
| I 35 | 49.6 mi | 53m |
| West 1st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| South 2nd Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Frontage Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Fair Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Southwest 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Moville, IA.
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street
At end of road, turn right onto West 1st Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 35
Take the exit
Merge onto US 20
Turn right onto Fair Street
Turn left onto East Frontage Road
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 40 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.7 miles or 1h 44m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Moville, IA than in the middle of the route.
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 181.4 miles and 3h 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
91 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 90.7 miles from Ankeny, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 128.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 181 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto West 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining
Take the exit toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$28.12 one way
$56.25 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $30.84 | $61.68 |
| premium | $4.93 | $35.19 | $70.39 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $39.99 | $79.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.4 | 0 | $19.05 | $8.71 |
| Efficient EV | 45.4 | 0 | $15.87 | $7.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.6 | 0 | $25.40 | $11.61 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
6:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
Destination
Morning in Moville on Saturday
Local time
6:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
181.4 mi in 3h 31m, mostly highway — 128.6 mi of that is on US 20.
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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 31m drive. You will face about 8 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 2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
558 ft
Total Descent
374 ft
Highest Point
1,442 ft
~155.5 mi in
Elevation Range
455 ft
Founded 1889
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 31m. Total distance: 181.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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