Ankeny, IA to North English, IA is 99.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 56 minutes via I 80, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, specifically Iowa, making it a straightforward journey. You'll primarily be on interstate highways, so expect a consistent pace for most of the trip. Given the short duration and minimal stops, this is an easy day trip. Plan for a relatively quick transit between these two Iowa communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.7 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
78.7 mi
1h 24m
M Avenue
11.7 mi
16m
I 35
4.8 mi
5m
West 1st Street
1.4 mi
3m
State Highway 149
0.8 mi
1m
Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
<1m
South Main Street
0.1 mi
<1m
East Clark Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 78.7 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and North English, 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
79 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 80
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward Merango, North English
10
Turn right onto CR V66
12 mi·16 min·M Avenue
11
Continue on IA 149
0.8 mi·1 min·State Highway 149
12
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·South Main Street
13
Turn right onto East Clark Street
50 ft·2 sec·East Clark Street
14
Arrive at destination
East Clark Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 56 minute drive time and 99.4 mile distance, you can comfortably leave Ankeny anytime in the morning and still arrive in North English with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended day for this trip and a fuel cost estimated at $16, there's no need to rush or split the drive. The longest stretch is 78.7 miles on I 80, so plan your fuel and rest stops before you begin that segment. Keep an eye out for your turn-off from I 80, as the transition to local roads for the final miles can sneak up quickly.
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 49.7 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.7 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 22 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.7 miles or 57m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North English, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ankeny, IA
This is one driving day of about 99.4 miles and 1h 56m.
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 I 80 for about 78.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 6.8 — 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...
5
6.8 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Davenport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 137A
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.54 one way
$31.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.06
$34.12
premium
$4.89
$19.13
$38.26
diesel
$5.61
$21.95
$43.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.8
0
$10.44
$4.77
Efficient EV
24.9
0
$8.70
$3.98
EV Truck/SUV
39.8
0
$13.92
$6.36
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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
2:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North English, IA
Late night
in North English on Sunday
Local time
2:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Newton, IA
50 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
1 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
1h 56m 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 route is largely highway-focused, with 85% of the drive taking place on interstates. You'll spend a significant, uninterrupted stretch of 78.7 miles on I 80, which means you can maintain a steady speed for a good portion of the journey. While I 35 is also part of the initial leg, the majority of your time will be on I 80 before transitioning to local roads for the final approach. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes efficiency over varied scenery.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.7 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and M Avenue. You will hit about 11 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 99.4 miles you will encounter 11 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.
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 North English, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport, Merango and English.
Council Bluffs
6.6 mi in|~9m|via I 35
Davenport
6.6 mi in|~9m|via I 35
Merango
86.3 mi in|~1h 37m
English
86.3 mi in|~1h 37m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 99.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.7 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 North English, IA before heading back.
