Origin
Eldora, IA
Morning in Eldora on Friday
Local time
6:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eldora, 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 30m
Distance
69.9 mi
112 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 24m
★
6 AM
1h 31m
8 AM
1h 45m
10 AM
1h 36m
12 PM
1h 34m
3 PM
1h 36m
5 PM
1h 44m
8 PM
1h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eldora, IA
Pexels LATAM
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Eldora to Ankeny is 69.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes via I-35 and US 65, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest region. Given the relatively short distance and highway profile, it's a straightforward drive. Most of the route is on major highways, making it a quick connection between these two points. Plan for a simple, efficient drive with minimal complications.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.9 miles from Eldora, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 39.7 mi | 43m |
| State Highway 175 | 14.8 mi | 21m |
| US 65 | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| 330th Street | 5.5 mi | 8m |
| East 1st Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Edgington Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 39.7 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eldora, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on Washington Street
69 ft
·
6 sec
·
Washington Street
2
Turn right onto IA 175
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Edgington Avenue
3
Continue on IA 175
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 175
4
Continue on US 65
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 65
5
Turn straight onto US 65
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 65
6
Turn sharp right onto IA 175
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 175
7
Continue on IA 175
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
330th Street
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I-35 south: Des Moines
9
Merge onto I 35
40 mi
·
43 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
11
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft
·
9 sec
12
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
13
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
14
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
15
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just 1 hour 30 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive before lunch, or leave in the afternoon. There are no recommended stops on this route, but if you need to refuel, consider doing so before you leave Eldora or once you arrive in Ankeny, as the fuel cost is estimated at $11. Keep an eye on exits as you get closer to Ankeny, as the highway will transition to surface streets for the final miles.
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 34.9 miles from Eldora, IA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.7 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 15 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.9 miles or 50m 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 16m
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 Eldora, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Eldora, IA
This is one driving day of about 69.9 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Eldora, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 39.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.9 miles from Eldora, 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 14.5 and 68.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
14.5 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
IA 175 / State Highway 175
Turn sharp right onto IA 175 / State Highway 175
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
27.9 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the ramp toward I-35 south: Des Moines
Navigation decision point
Toward I-35 south: Des Moines
5
28.2 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
68 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
68.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.84 one way
$21.67 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $11.88 | $23.77 |
| premium | $4.93 | $13.56 | $27.12 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $15.41 | $30.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21 | 0 | $7.34 | $3.36 |
| Efficient EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.12 | $2.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28 | 0 | $9.79 | $4.47 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Morning in Ankeny on Friday
Local time
6:55 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
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
1h 30m 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 route is predominantly highway driving, with 87% of the trip on major roads like I-35. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 39.7 miles on I-35 before transitioning to other highways. Expect a mostly highway experience for the bulk of your travel time. The final portion will likely involve navigating surface roads as you approach your destination.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.7 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and State Highway 175. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 14.5 miles in near IA 175 / State Highway 175.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 30m 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 14.5 miles (IA 175 / State Highway 175): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 27.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 28.2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,163 ft
881 ft
Total Climb
281 ft
Total Descent
374 ft
Highest Point
1,163 ft
~20 mi in
Elevation Range
282 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Eldora, IA
Full guide →Founded 1853
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 30m. Total distance: 69.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.7 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 14.5 miles (IA 175 / State Highway 175): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 27.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 28.2 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.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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