Ankeny to Waukon is 210.5 miles and takes about 4h 25m via US 20 and I 35, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Iowa for its entire duration. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is ideal for a quick trip between these two points without requiring an overnight stay. Plan for a straightforward drive with minimal complexity.
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
105.3 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
53.9 mi
1h 2m
I 35
49.3 mi
53m
Larrabee Avenue
22.8 mi
26m
Harding Road
16.9 mi
23m
230th Street
13 mi
17m
270th Street
10.9 mi
14m
State Highway 51
10.6 mi
15m
Logan Avenue
6.9 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 53.9 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Waukon, 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
23 mi·26 min·Larrabee Avenue
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
22
At end of road, turn left onto US 18
5.4 mi·7 min·270th Street
23
Continue on US 18
0.9 mi·1 min·West Main Street
24
Continue on US 18
5.5 mi·7 min·270th Street
25
Continue on US 18
13 mi·17 min·230th Street
26
Continue on US 18
1.3 mi·1 min·West Bradford Street
27
Continue on US 18
17 mi·23 min·Harding Road
28
Turn left onto IA 51
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Lawler Street
29
Continue on IA 51
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 51
30
Turn right onto IA 9
4.7 mi·7 min·State Highway 9
31
Turn left onto IA 9; IA 76
2.0 mi·3 min·Rossville Road
32
Turn right onto IA 9
56 ft·6 sec·West Main Street
33
Turn left onto IA 9
50 ft·0 sec·Allamakee Street Northwest
34
Arrive at destination
IA 9
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 25m driving time, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Leaving in the morning allows plenty of time to reach Waukon before evening. The longest stretch on US 20 is 53.9 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, perhaps before entering this longer segment. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to pause. Budgeting around $32 for fuel should cover the 210.5-mile distance.
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 105.3 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 2h 1m 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 46 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.3 miles or 2h 1m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waukon, 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 210.5 miles and 4h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 210.5 — 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
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
5
210.5 mi into trip|~4h 25m in|IA 9 / Allamakee Street Northwest
Turn left onto IA 9 / Allamakee Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.11 one way
$70.23 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$38.16
$76.33
premium
$5.26
$43.58
$87.17
diesel
$6.18
$51.21
$102.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.2
0
$22.10
$10.10
Efficient EV
52.6
0
$18.42
$8.42
EV Truck/SUV
84.2
1
$29.47
$13.47
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Ankeny, IA
Morning
in Ankeny on Sunday
Local time
8:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
SSW 2 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Waukon, IA
Morning
in Waukon on Sunday
Local time
8:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SW 5 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
57°F
Waterloo, IA
105 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
3 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 25m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Effigy Mounds National Monument
National Monument
The mounds preserved here are considered sacred by many Americans, especially the Monument's 20 culturally associated American Indian tribes. A visit offers opportunities to contemplate the meanings o...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 196
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 57% highway, meaning you'll spend a significant portion on faster roads. The longest stretch without a turn is 53.9 miles on US 20. You'll transition from highway to surface roads at some point, so be prepared for a change in driving pace. The prevalence of highway driving suggests ample opportunities for steady cruising.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 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?
4/10
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.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 25m drive. You will face about 20 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 110.7 miles (Greenhill Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,235 ft938 ft
Total Climb
558 ft
Total Descent
315 ft
Highest Point
1,235 ft
~210.5 mi in
Elevation Range
298 ft
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 Waukon, IA, road signs point toward Cr D18: Cedar Falls and Broadway Street: Airport.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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 — we found about 5 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 110.7 miles (Greenhill Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — Effigy Mounds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Waukon, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
