Ankeny to Tripoli is 142.4 miles and takes about 2h 52m via US 20 and I 35, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, taking you through the familiar Midwest landscape. Expect a straightforward drive focused on reaching your destination efficiently. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a convenient option for a quick journey between these two points.
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
71.2 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
53.9 mi
1h 2m
I 35
49.3 mi
53m
Larrabee Avenue
11.3 mi
13m
Logan Avenue
6.9 mi
8m
University Avenue
3.5 mi
4m
170th Street
3.5 mi
5m
West Airline Highway
3 mi
5m
Avenue of the Saints
2.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 53.9 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Tripoli, 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
11 mi·13 min·Larrabee Avenue
21
Turn right onto IA 93
3.5 mi·5 min·170th Street
22
Continue on IA 93
0.5 mi·50 sec·7th Avenue Southwest
23
Turn left onto IA 93
0.4 mi·35 sec·South Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
IA 93
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 2h 52m duration, this trip is best suited for a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of flexibility for an unplanned stop or a leisurely arrival. Watch your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without exiting a major highway is nearly 54 miles. The estimated fuel cost of $22 is a helpful budget guide for this relatively short, 142.4-mile journey.
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 71.2 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 21m 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 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.2 miles or 1h 21m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tripoli, 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 142.4 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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
$22.26 one way
$44.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.44
$48.89
premium
$4.89
$27.40
$54.81
diesel
$5.61
$31.44
$62.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.7
0
$14.95
$6.84
Efficient EV
35.6
0
$12.46
$5.70
EV Truck/SUV
57
0
$19.94
$9.11
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Night
in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tripoli, IA
Night
in Tripoli on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 52m 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 is largely a highway-focused drive, with 73% of the route utilizing major roads like US 20 and I 35. You'll experience a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 53.9 miles on US 20, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. The inclusion of Larrabee Avenue suggests a transition to more local roads as you near Tripoli, potentially offering a change of scenery from the main highways.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 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 142.4 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 Tripoli, 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 52m. Total distance: 142.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). 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, 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 Tripoli, IA before heading back.
