Origin
Ankeny, IA
Late night in Ankeny on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ankeny, IA to Wellman, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 22m
Distance
117.3 mi
189 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 13m
★
6 AM
2h 23m
8 AM
2h 42m
10 AM
2h 30m
12 PM
2h 28m
3 PM
2h 31m
5 PM
2h 41m
8 PM
2h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Wellman, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
Ankeny to Wellman is 117.3 miles and takes about 2h 22m via I 80 and State Highway 22, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, specifically Iowa, offering a straightforward trip. It's a good option for a quick excursion or connecting two points without a significant time commitment. The route is primarily highway-focused, meaning you'll spend most of your time on faster roads.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.7 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 78.7 mi | 1h 24m |
| State Highway 22 | 12.8 mi | 18m |
| M Avenue | 11.7 mi | 16m |
| State Highway 149 | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| I 35 | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| West 1st Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 6th Street | 0.3 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 Wellman, 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 137A
Toward 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
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 149
12
Turn left onto IA 22
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Main Street
13
Continue on IA 22
13 mi
·
18 min
·
State Highway 22
14
Continue on IA 22
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
6th Street
15
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
9th Avenue
16
Turn left
173 ft
·
14 sec
17
At end of road, turn right
104 ft
·
7 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 2h 22m drive, leaving in the morning offers flexibility. With a total distance of 117.3 miles, there's no need to split the trip, allowing for a spontaneous departure. Budget around $18 for fuel, and keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the 78.7-mile stretch on I 80. While there are no designated stops in the data, you'll likely find services along I 80 if needed. Consider that M Avenue marks the transition to surface roads, so be prepared to adjust your speed accordingly.
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 58.7 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 7m 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 26 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.7 miles or 1h 7m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wellman, 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 117.3 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58.7 miles from Ankeny, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 117.3 — 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...
6
117.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.34 one way
$36.68 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.13 | $40.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.57 | $45.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.90 | $51.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.2 | 0 | $12.32 | $5.63 |
| Efficient EV | 29.3 | 0 | $10.26 | $4.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.9 | 0 | $16.42 | $7.51 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Wellman, IA
Late night in Wellman on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Brooklyn, IA
59 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
19 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 22m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive covering 117.3 miles. You'll spend 87% of your time on highways, with the longest stretch of 78.7 miles occurring on I 80. Expect to transition from high-speed interstate cruising to surface roads around the time you leave I 80. The frequent exits on the interstate portion will be a noticeable feature.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 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 State Highway 22. You will hit about 13 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 Effort
5/10
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 117.3 miles you will encounter 13 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.
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 Wellman, 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 2h 22m. Total distance: 117.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). 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, 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 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 Wellman, IA before heading back.
How this page is built
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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