Origin
Grinnell, IA
Late night in Grinnell on Sunday
Local time
2:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Grinnell, IA to Ankeny, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
55.1 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grinnell, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 55.1-mile drive from Grinnell, IA, to Ankeny, IA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just about 1 hour and 7 minutes. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 87% of the journey on interstates, making it a quick and efficient connection between two points in the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, this is an economical option for anyone needing to travel between these Iowa cities. You'll spend most of your time on I-80 and I-35, so expect a functional rather than scenic experience. Given the short duration, no overnight stops are necessary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 43.2 mi | 46m |
| I 35 | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| West Street | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| East 1st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| 4th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Park Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Southwest 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 43.2 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grinnell, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on Park Street
67 ft
·
10 sec
·
Park Street
2
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
4th Avenue
3
Turn left onto IA 146
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
West Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
5
Merge onto I 80
43 mi
·
46 min
·
I 80
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
8
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 North: Minneapolis
9
Merge onto I 35
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
I 35
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward 1st Street
11
Keep slight left at fork
256 ft
·
8 sec
Toward High Trestle Trail
Use the left lane.
12
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.5 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.5 miles from Grinnell, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 55.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
4th Avenue
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
47 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
6
48.3 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35 toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
8
53.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward High Trestle Trail
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward High Trestle Trail
5
55.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.61 one way
$17.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.46 | $18.92 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.60 | $21.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.17 | $24.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.79 | $2.64 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22 | 0 | $7.71 | $3.53 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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 Sunday
Local time
2:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Colfax, IA
28 mi in
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
21 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 7m 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?
Prepare for a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, as 87% of your travel will be on major interstates. You'll encounter an uninterrupted stretch of 43.2 miles on I-80, which forms the bulk of the journey. The drive progresses primarily along these high-speed corridors, including I-35, with minimal time spent on local roads like West Street. This means you can anticipate consistent speeds and a direct path, though the scenery will likely be typical of interstate driving through the Midwest.
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: 43.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 35. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 4th Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 55.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (4th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 47 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.3 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 7m. Total distance: 55.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.2 miles on I 80. 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.
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: near the start (4th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 47 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.3 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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