Origin
Creston, IA
Late night in Creston on Friday
Local time
5:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Creston, IA to Ankeny, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 54m
Distance
89.5 mi
144 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 46m
★
6 AM
1h 54m
8 AM
2h 11m
10 AM
2h 0m
12 PM
1h 58m
3 PM
2h 1m
5 PM
2h 10m
8 PM
1h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Creston, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Creston to Ankeny is 89.5 miles and takes about 1h 54m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving through the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive that mostly utilizes I 35, making it a convenient option for a quick transfer between these two points. You'll find the fuel cost to be quite manageable, so you don't need to worry about extensive budgeting for gas on this particular route.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.7 miles from Creston, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 51.1 mi | 56m |
| West Taylor Street | 30.5 mi | 42m |
| Northwest 2nd Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Southwest State Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Southwest Ordnance Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Elm Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Montgomery Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 51.1 mi, about 56m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,792 veh/hr typical · worst 3,325
Quietest
2 AM
~190 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 96 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Creston, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on East Montgomery Street
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Montgomery Street
2
Turn left onto North Elm Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Elm Street
3
Turn left onto US 34
30 mi
·
42 min
·
West Taylor Street
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I-35 north: Des Moines
5
Merge onto I 35
51 mi
·
56 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 135
Toward IA 415: Polk City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto IA 415
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
8
Continue on IA 415
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Southwest State Street
9
Turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Ordnance Road
10
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Walnut Street
11
Turn right onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
12
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 54 minutes, this is an easy same-day trip. You can leave anytime in the morning or afternoon and still arrive with plenty of daylight. With only 89.5 miles, you don't need to plan for extensive rest stops, but it's always wise to take a short break if you feel tired. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 35 to local streets as you approach Ankeny, as this is where you'll need to be most aware of your surroundings.
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 44.7 miles from Creston, IA, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.1 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 20 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.7 miles or 59m 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 34m
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 Creston, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Creston, IA
This is one driving day of about 89.5 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Creston, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 51.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.7 miles from Creston, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 82.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Elm Street
Turn left onto North Elm Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 34 / West Taylor Street
Turn left onto US 34 / West Taylor Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
31.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the ramp toward I-35 north: Des Moines
Navigation decision point
Toward I-35 north: Des Moines
5
31.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
82.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward IA 415: Polk City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 135
Toward IA 415: Polk City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.88 one way
$27.75 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $15.22 | $30.43 |
| premium | $4.93 | $17.36 | $34.73 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $19.73 | $39.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.9 | 0 | $9.40 | $4.30 |
| Efficient EV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.83 | $3.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.8 | 0 | $12.53 | $5.73 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Ankeny, IA
Late night in Ankeny on Friday
Local time
5:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 54m 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?
About 57% of this drive is on the interstate, I 35. You'll experience a 51.1-mile stretch on I 35 before transitioning to surface roads. The route features a mix of highway cruising and surface street driving as you enter your destination. Expect a straightforward driving experience with clear transitions between the highway and local roads.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.1 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 around 0.1 miles in near North Elm Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 54m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 34 / West Taylor Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Creston, IA
Full guide →Founded 1868
Top landmarks
- • Creston — railway station in Creston, Iowa
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 89.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.1 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 34 / West Taylor Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ankeny, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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