This straightforward 83.3-mile drive from Corydon, IA to Ankeny, IA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours to complete. You'll primarily navigate on State Highway 14 and State Highway 5, with a segment also known as the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. With a projected fuel cost of around $13, this route offers an economical journey within the Midwest region. The mixed drive profile suggests a varied experience, making it a practical option for a quick hop between these Iowa locations. You won't need to worry about splitting this into overnight stays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.6 miles from Corydon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 14
23 mi
34m
State Highway 5
18.2 mi
20m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
10.3 mi
11m
County Road S45
9.2 mi
16m
I 35
4.7 mi
5m
260th Avenue
3.6 mi
6m
County Highway S45
1.9 mi
3m
50th Place
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 14
— 23 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Corydon, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on South Franklin Street
86 ft·5 sec·South Franklin Street
2
Turn right onto IA 2
460 ft·13 sec·West Jefferson Street
3
Turn left onto IA 14
460 ft·13 sec·South Lafayette Street
4
Turn left onto IA 14
242 ft·6 sec·East Jackson Street
5
Turn right onto IA 14
0.7 mi·1 min·North Washington Street
6
Continue on IA 14
16 mi·24 min·State Highway 14
7
Continue on IA 14
0.4 mi·38 sec·Main Street
8
Turn straight onto IA 14; US 34 Business
492 ft·8 sec·State Highway 14
9
Continue on IA 14; US 34 Business
0.2 mi·21 sec·Woodlawn Avenue
10
At end of road, turn left onto IA 14; US 34 Business
1.5 mi·2 min·South 7th Street
11
Continue on IA 14
6.4 mi·9 min·State Highway 14
12
Turn left onto CR S45
3.6 mi·6 min·260th Avenue
13
Continue on CR S45
1.7 mi·2 min·50th Place
14
Continue on CR S45
1.9 mi·3 min·County Highway S45
15
Turn right onto CR G76; CR S45
0.5 mi·58 sec·County Highway G76
16
Turn left onto CR S45
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
17
Continue on CR S45
0.2 mi·24 sec·Northeast Main Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto CR S45
367 ft·9 sec·B Street Northwest
19
Turn right onto CR S45
461 ft·9 sec·1st Street Northwest
20
Continue on CR S45
9.2 mi·16 min·County Road S45
21
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·8 sec·this road
22
Continue on IA 5
18 mi·20 min·State Highway 5
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
24
Merge onto US 65
10 mi·11 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
25
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 84Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
26
Merge onto I 80
0.9 mi·1 min·I 80
27
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 137BToward I-35 north: MinneapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·42 sec·this road
Exit 137BToward I-35 north: Minneapolis
29
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·52 sec·this road
Exit 137BToward I-35 North: Minneapolis
30
Merge onto I 35
4.7 mi·5 min·I 35
Toward I 35 North: MinneapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward 1st Street
32
Keep slight left at fork
256 ft·8 sec
Toward High Trestle TrailUse the left lane.
33
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.5 mi·3 min·East 1st Street
34
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
35
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·2 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
36
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given this drive is only 2 hours and 83.3 miles, you have plenty of flexibility for departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the earliest rush or late afternoon for an evening arrival. With no designated stops, you can easily pull over if needed, but plan for fuel before you leave Corydon to cover the $13 estimated cost. Keep an eye out for signage indicating the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway, as this marks a specific section of your 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.6 miles from Corydon, IA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23 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 18 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.6 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ankeny, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Corydon, 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 Corydon, IA
This is one driving day of about 83.3 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Corydon, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 14 for about 23 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 81.5 — 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|IA 2 / West Jefferson Street
Turn right onto IA 2 / West Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
6
34.6 mi into trip|~54m in|CR S45 / B Street Northwest
At end of road, turn left onto CR S45 / B Street Northwest
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
75.2 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
6
76.5 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35 toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
8
81.5 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward High Trestle Trail
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward High Trestle Trail
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.02 one way
$26.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.30
$28.60
premium
$4.89
$16.03
$32.06
diesel
$5.61
$18.39
$36.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25
0
$8.75
$4.00
Efficient EV
20.8
0
$7.29
$3.33
EV Truck/SUV
33.3
0
$11.66
$5.33
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 18, 2026
Origin
Corydon, IA
Night
in Corydon on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 16 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:33AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Night
in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
35°F
Mostly Clear
NW 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:33AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
69°F
Altoona, IA
42 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
1 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 on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this 83.3-mile route, with 56% of it on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 23 miles on State Highway 14, offering a consistent pace. While not entirely interstate, the presence of highways suggests periods of faster travel interspersed with potentially more local road sections as you transition. This blend means you'll experience a dynamic drive, shifting between open stretches and more varied scenery.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23 mi on State Highway 14.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 2 / West Jefferson Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 83.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 2 / West Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 34.6 miles (CR S45 / B Street Northwest): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 75.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h. Total distance: 83.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23 miles on State Highway 14. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Ankeny, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 2 / West Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 34.6 miles (CR S45 / B Street Northwest): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 75.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ankeny, IA before heading back.
