Origin
Garner, IA
Morning in Garner on Tuesday
Local time
7:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Garner, IA to Ankeny, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 9m
Distance
102.1 mi
164 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 0m
★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 15m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Garner, IA
Jay's Photography
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Garner, IA to Ankeny, IA is 102.1 miles and takes about 2h 9m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points within Iowa. Expect a fairly direct drive, mostly on the interstate, making it a straightforward journey. It’s a practical route for anyone needing to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Considering the relatively short duration, you can easily complete this drive in a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51 miles from Garner, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 53.7 mi | 58m |
| Sage Avenue | 26.7 mi | 36m |
| US 69 | 15 mi | 20m |
| 190th Street | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| East 1st Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| US 18 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 53.7 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Garner, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on East 3rd Street
69 ft
·
5 sec
·
East 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto State Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
State Street
3
Turn left onto US 18
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 18
4
Turn left onto US 69
27 mi
·
36 min
·
Sage Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 69
15 mi
·
20 min
·
US 69
6
Turn left onto CR D20
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
190th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward Somerset Road
8
Merge onto I 35
54 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
10
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft
·
9 sec
11
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
12
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
13
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
14
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour drive, an early morning departure is ideal to avoid any potential midday traffic, though the route is manageable any time of day. Since the longest stretch is under an hour, you won't necessarily need formal stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 102.1-mile mark. The $16 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but it's always wise to fill up before you leave Garner, IA. Given the short duration, you have plenty of flexibility for spontaneous breaks if needed.
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 51 miles from Garner, IA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.7 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 22 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51 miles or 1h 11m 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 46m
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 Garner, 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 Garner, IA
This is one driving day of about 102.1 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Garner, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 53.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51 miles from Garner, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 102.1 — 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
|
State Street
Turn right onto State Street
Navigation decision point
5
46.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
100.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
100.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
102.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
|
Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.96 one way
$31.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.53 | $35.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.65 | $39.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.54 | $45.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.6 | 0 | $10.72 | $4.90 |
| Efficient EV | 25.5 | 0 | $8.93 | $4.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.8 | 0 | $14.29 | $6.53 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 Tuesday
Local time
7:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
35°F
Mostly Clear
NW 14 mph
0% chance
Live 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
43°F
Gilbert, IA
51 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
5 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 9m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 68% of the route utilizing major highways like I 35 and US 69. You'll experience a significant stretch of 53.7 miles on I 35 without interruption, offering a consistent pace. While primarily interstate, there are segments on roads like Sage Avenue that might offer a slight change of scenery. Overall, anticipate a driving experience characterized by efficiency rather than winding country roads.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.7 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Sage Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near State Street.
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 2h 9m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (State Street): Navigation decision point; at 46.5 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Arriving in Ankeny, IA
Full guide →Ankeny is a suburb of Des Moines in Central 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 2h 9m. Total distance: 102.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.7 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (State Street): Navigation decision point; at 46.5 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.2 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.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Ankeny, IA
More trips to Ankeny, IA
Explore more options from Garner, IA or browse trips ending in Ankeny, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.