Origin
Iowa Falls, IA
Late night in Iowa Falls on Tuesday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iowa Falls, 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
1h 27m
Distance
73.2 mi
118 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iowa Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Iowa Falls to Ankeny is a straightforward 73.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 27 minutes. You will primarily navigate via US 20 and I-35, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $11 for fuel makes this a very cost-effective commute through the heart of the Midwest. Because the route is short and efficient, it is perfect for those looking to reach the Ankeny area quickly without the fatigue of a long-distance haul. Whether you are heading south for business or leisure, you will find the transition between these two Iowa towns seamless and predictable.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 49.6 mi | 53m |
| US 20 | 15.4 mi | 17m |
| Oak Street | 5 mi | 8m |
| East 1st Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| East Rocksylvania Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Commercial Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Southwest 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 49.6 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa Falls, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on Commercial Street
331 ft
·
11 sec
·
Commercial Street
2
Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Rocksylvania Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 65
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Oak Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward US 20 West
5
Merge onto US 20
15 mi
·
17 min
·
US 20
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 35
50 mi
·
53 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
9
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft
·
9 sec
10
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
11
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
12
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
13
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.6 miles from Iowa Falls, 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 21.4 and 73.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
21.4 mi into trip
|
~28m 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
5
21.7 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
71.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
71.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
73.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.44 one way
$22.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.57 | $25.13 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.09 | $28.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.16 | $32.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22 | 0 | $7.69 | $3.51 |
| Efficient EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.3 | 0 | $10.25 | $4.68 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 Tuesday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 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 27m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 89% of this trip is spent on major thoroughfares. You will start by transitioning onto the roads before settling into a long, consistent stretch of 49.6 miles on I-35. The drive is designed for efficiency rather than technical maneuvering, offering a steady pace that allows you to cover ground quickly. As you move from the quieter roads near Iowa Falls toward the more populated areas approaching Ankeny, the flow of traffic may increase. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and direct connectivity over winding backroads.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.6 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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 21.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 73.2 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: at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.3 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 1h 27m. Total distance: 73.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.6 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 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.3 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.
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