If you are heading from Ankeny to Waverly, expect a straightforward 123.4-mile journey through the heart of the Midwest. This drive typically takes about 2 hours and 33 minutes, making it an easy day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize I-35, State Highway 3, and 210th Street to complete the trek. Budgeting around $19 for fuel should keep you covered for the trip. Since you are traveling entirely within Iowa, the transition between regions is seamless and familiar. It is a practical route for those who prefer efficiency over complex navigation.
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
61.7 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
72.4 mi
1h 18m
State Highway 3
21.4 mi
29m
210th Street
18 mi
24m
230th Street
3.3 mi
4m
Central Avenue West
2.1 mi
4m
South Street
1.7 mi
2m
West 1st Street
1.5 mi
3m
West Bremer Avenue
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 72.4 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Waverly, 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
72 mi·1 hr 18 min·I 35
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward IA 3: Hampton, Clarion
7
Turn right onto IA 3
8.9 mi·12 min·State Highway 3
8
Continue on IA 3
2.1 mi·4 min·Central Avenue West
9
Continue on IA 3
8.2 mi·11 min·State Highway 3
10
Continue on IA 3
1.8 mi·2 min·210th Street
11
Continue on IA 3
1.7 mi·2 min·South Street
12
Continue on IA 3
7.4 mi·10 min·210th Street
13
Continue on IA 3; IA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 3
14
Continue on IA 3
8.8 mi·11 min·210th Street
15
Continue on IA 3
3.4 mi·4 min·State Highway 3
16
Continue on IA 3
3.3 mi·4 min·230th Street
17
Continue on IA 3
0.9 mi·1 min·Heritage Way
18
Continue on IA 3
351 ft·12 sec·20th Street Northwest
19
Turn right onto US 218 Business; IA 3
1.0 mi·2 min·West Bremer Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
IA 3
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 33 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With only one recommended stop planned, you can easily manage the 123.4 miles in a single session without feeling rushed. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving the interstate, as availability can change once you transition to the local stretches of 210th Street. Since the drive is relatively short, try to time your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours to ensure a smooth transition between road types. Staying mindful of the shift from the high-speed I-35 to the smaller state routes will help you maintain a comfortable pace throughout the day.
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 61.7 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.4 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 27 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.7 miles or 1h 9m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waverly, 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 123.4 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 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 I 35 for about 72.4 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 74.9 — 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
3
2 mi into trip|~4m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
74.4 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward IA 3: Hampton, Clarion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 3: Hampton, Clarion
3
74.9 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|IA 3 / State Highway 3
Turn right onto IA 3 / State Highway 3
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.29 one way
$38.58 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.18
$42.36
premium
$4.89
$23.75
$47.49
diesel
$5.61
$27.25
$54.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37
0
$12.96
$5.92
Efficient EV
30.9
0
$10.80
$4.94
EV Truck/SUV
49.4
0
$17.28
$7.90
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
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
2:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waverly, IA
Late night
in Waverly on Sunday
Local time
2:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
22 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
2h 33m 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 trip is a highway-focused drive, with 76% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will face a longest uninterrupted stretch of 72.4 miles while navigating I-35, which allows for consistent pacing. As you transition off the interstate and onto State Highway 3 and 210th Street, the road personality shifts to a more local feel. Expect a blend of high-speed interstate travel followed by the quieter rhythms of smaller state and local roads. Being behind the wheel requires shifting your focus from highway cruising to the more deliberate pace of regional transit.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.4 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and State Highway 3. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Waverly, IA is easy. At 2h 33m with 76% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ankeny, IA to Waverly, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Clarion along the way.
Clarion
74.4 mi in|~1h 23m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 123.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 72.4 miles on I 35. 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 2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waverly, IA before heading back.
