Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
22.6 mi
36 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Waukee, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ankeny to Waukee is 22.6 miles and takes about 34 minutes via I 80, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive connects two points within Iowa's Midwest region. Expect a mixed driving profile that's mostly highway, making it a straightforward trip perfect for a quick local excursion or an easy leg of a larger journey. Given its brevity, it offers a lot of flexibility for when you depart and how you choose to spend your time upon arrival.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| Hickman Road | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| Northwest 2nd Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Southwest State Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Southwest Ordnance Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 6th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ashworth Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Waukee, IA.
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
At end of road, turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road
Turn left onto Southwest State Street
Continue on IA 415
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 6
Turn left onto CR R22
Turn left onto Ashworth Drive
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 16.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 6: Hickman Road, Adel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto US 6 / Hickman Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$3.53 one way
$7.07 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.88 | $7.76 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.35 | $8.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.99 | $9.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.37 | $1.08 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.98 | $0.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.45 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Night in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Night in Waukee on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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.
This route features a mixed drive profile, with 43% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 9.7 miles on I 80, offering a taste of steady interstate travel. As you transition from I 80, you'll navigate through local roads like Hickman Road and Northwest 2nd Street, which will offer a different pace. The drive is characterized by these shifts between faster highway sections and more varied local road conditions.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 34m drive. You will face about 7 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 0.4 miles (Southwest Ordnance Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ankeny, IA to Waukee, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Adel along the way.
Adel
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 22.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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