Eagle Grove to Ankeny is 84.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 42 minutes via I 35 and US 20, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Iowa, making it a straightforward journey between two points in the same state. Given its relatively short distance and focused highway profile, it's an ideal choice for a quick day trip or a convenient leg of a longer Midwestern adventure. You'll mostly be on well-maintained interstates, so expect a predictable and efficient travel time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.1 miles from Eagle Grove, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
49.1 mi
53m
US 20
16.4 mi
18m
Stagecoach Road
7.7 mi
11m
State Highway 17
6.7 mi
9m
East 1st Street
1.4 mi
3m
South Commercial Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
220th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 49.1 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eagle Grove, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on West Broadway Street
30 ft·8 sec·West Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto South Commercial Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·South Commercial Avenue
3
Continue on IA 17
6.7 mi·9 min·State Highway 17
4
Continue on IA 17
5.9 mi·8 min·Stagecoach Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto CR D20; IA 17; CR D20
0.4 mi·37 sec·220th Street
6
Turn right onto IA 17
1.7 mi·2 min·Stagecoach Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward US 20 East
8
Merge onto US 20
16 mi·18 min·US 20
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
10
Merge onto I 35
49 mi·53 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 92Toward 1st Street
12
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft·9 sec
13
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi·3 min·East 1st Street
14
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
15
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·2 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
16
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 42-minute drive, there's no real need to split the journey, offering you flexibility with your departure time. Aim to leave in the morning to make the most of your day, though the relatively short distance means an afternoon departure is also perfectly viable. With a fuel cost estimated at around $13, you won't need extensive planning for refueling stops. Keep an eye on your GPS as you approach Ankeny, as the transition from I 35 to your final destination might involve some local roads.
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 42.1 miles from Eagle Grove, IA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.1 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 19 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.1 miles or 54m 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 26m
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 Eagle Grove, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Eagle Grove, IA
This is one driving day of about 84.1 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Eagle Grove, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 49.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.5 and 82.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
13.5 mi into trip|~20m in|CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street
Navigation decision point
5
15.6 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
5
33.1 mi into trip|~44m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
82.2 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
82.5 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.15 one way
$26.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.44
$28.87
premium
$4.89
$16.18
$32.37
diesel
$5.61
$18.57
$37.14
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: 29.4 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
25.2
0
$8.83
$4.04
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.36
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.77
$5.38
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 16, 2026
Origin
Eagle Grove, IA
Morning
in Eagle Grove on Sunday
Local time
9:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Morning
in Ankeny on Sunday
Local time
9:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
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
1h 42m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 86% of the journey taking place on major roads like I 35 and US 20. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 49.1 miles on I 35, offering a good opportunity for consistent cruising. The route transitions from US 20 to I 35, and then briefly uses Stagecoach Road, suggesting a mix of high-speed travel and potentially some local road integration near the destination. Expect a practical, no-frills driving experience primarily characterized by interstate speeds.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.1 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13.5 miles in near CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 84.1 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 13.5 miles (CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 33.1 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 84.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.1 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 13.5 miles (CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 33.1 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 Ankeny, IA before heading back.
