Planning a trip from Denver, IA, to Ankeny, IA? This 132.1-mile drive takes approximately 2 hours and 6 minutes and is best suited as a single-day excursion. You'll navigate primarily local roads, with no highway stretches, making it a turn-heavy local drive. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $20. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route offers a straightforward way to travel within the Midwest region, connecting two points within Iowa. It's a practical option for a quick hop between towns without the need for an overnight stop.
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
64.3 miles from Denver, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
54.3 mi
1h 2m
I 35
49.6 mi
53m
Logan Avenue
6.9 mi
8m
University Avenue
5.4 mi
7m
West Airline Highway
3 mi
5m
East 1st Street
1.4 mi
3m
Larrabee Avenue
1.3 mi
1m
Avenue of the Saints
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 54.3 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on CR C50
40 ft·2 sec·West Fayette Street
2
Turn right onto State Street
0.8 mi·1 min·State Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 63
1.3 mi·1 min·Larrabee Avenue
4
Continue on US 63
6.9 mi·8 min·Logan Avenue
5
Turn right onto West Airline Highway
3.0 mi·5 min·West Airline Highway
6
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·Airport Boulevard
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 218 north
8
Merge onto US 218
0.6 mi·40 sec·Leo P Rooff Expressway
9
Take the exit onto US 218
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 218
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
11
Merge onto IA 27; IA 58
1.2 mi·1 min·Avenue of the Saints
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 183Toward University Avenue
13
Keep slight right at fork
333 ft·8 sec
14
Turn straight onto University Avenue
1.8 mi·2 min·University Avenue
15
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
124 ft·2 sec·University Avenue
16
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi·4 min·University Avenue
17
Continue on Grundy Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Grundy Road
18
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
Use the right lane.
19
Merge onto US 20
54 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 20
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·54 sec
Toward I 35 South: Des MoinesUse the slight right lane.
21
Merge onto I 35
50 mi·53 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 92Toward 1st Street
23
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft·9 sec
24
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi·3 min·East 1st Street
25
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
26
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·2 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
27
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 132.1-mile drive, flexibility is key. You can easily complete the trip in under 3 hours, so consider departing mid-morning to avoid early rush hour traffic in either Denver or Ankeny. The estimated fuel cost is $20, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you set off, as there are no designated stops in the data. Keep an eye on your navigation system, as the 'turn-heavy' nature of this route means paying attention to directions is essential to stay on track for Ankeny.
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 64.3 miles from Denver, IA, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.3 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 28 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.3 miles or 1h 21m 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 7m
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 Denver, 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 Denver, IA
This is one driving day of about 128.6 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Denver, 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 54.3 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 12.1 and 76.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
12.1 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the ramp toward US 218 north
Navigation decision point
Toward US 218 north
6
13.4 mi into trip|~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
5
15.7 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward University Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 183
Toward University Avenue
5
15.9 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
76.9 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.11 one way
$40.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.07
$44.15
premium
$4.89
$24.75
$49.50
diesel
$5.61
$28.39
$56.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.6
0
$13.50
$6.17
Efficient EV
32.2
0
$11.25
$5.14
EV Truck/SUV
51.4
0
$18.00
$8.23
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 18, 2026
Origin
Denver, IA
Late night
in Denver on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Late night
in Ankeny on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
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
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
12 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 35m 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?
This route is characterized by its frequent turns, giving it a distinctly local feel rather than a high-speed interstate experience. With 0% highway share, you'll be on State Street, Larrabee Avenue, and Logan Avenue for the majority of your journey. The absence of long highway stretches means you'll be engaging with the road more actively, making frequent adjustments. While there isn't a recorded 'longest stretch' of uninterrupted driving, expect a continuous series of local road navigation throughout the 2-hour, 6-minute trip.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.3 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 128.6 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: at 12.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 13.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Denver, IA to Ankeny, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Uni along the way.
Uni
13.4 mi in|~19m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 35m. Total distance: 128.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.3 miles on US 20. 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 13.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ankeny, IA before heading back.
