Maharishi Vedic City, IA to Ankeny, IA is 122.6 miles and takes about 2h 31m via US 63 and I 35, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive keeps you within the Midwest, traversing the state of Iowa on a predominantly highway-focused path. It's a practical option for a quick transit, suitable for a single day of travel without requiring an overnight stop. Expect a consistent driving experience as you make your way towards your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
61.3 miles from Maharishi Vedic City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 63
69.4 mi
1h 20m
US 34
32.5 mi
37m
I 35
4.7 mi
5m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
3.8 mi
4m
East 1st Street
1.5 mi
3m
Kelp Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Old US 34
1 mi
1m
Jasmine Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 69.4 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maharishi Vedic City, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on Observatory Drive
0.1 mi·36 sec·Observatory Drive
2
Turn right onto Jasmine Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Jasmine Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto 185th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·185th Street
4
Turn right onto Kelp Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·Kelp Avenue
5
Continue on North 18th Avenue
0.3 mi·40 sec·North 18th Avenue
6
Turn right onto West Stone Avenue
0.3 mi·36 sec·West Stone Avenue
7
Continue on North 23rd Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·North 23rd Street
8
Turn right onto West Grimes Avenue
0.4 mi·46 sec·West Grimes Avenue
9
Turn left onto North 28th Street
0.3 mi·28 sec·North 28th Street
10
Turn right onto US 34 Business
0.3 mi·36 sec·West Burlington Avenue
11
Continue on US 34 Business
1.0 mi·1 min·Old US 34
12
Take the ramp onto US 34 Business
0.4 mi·54 sec·US 34 Business
Toward US 34, IA 163 West: OttumwaUse the right lane.
13
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
32 mi·37 min·US 34; IA 163
14
Continue on US 63; IA 163
69 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 63; IA 163
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
16
Merge onto US 65
3.8 mi·4 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
17
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 84Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
18
Merge onto I 80
0.9 mi·1 min·I 80
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 137BToward I-35 north: MinneapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·42 sec·this road
Exit 137BToward I-35 north: Minneapolis
21
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·52 sec·this road
Exit 137BToward I-35 North: Minneapolis
22
Merge onto I 35
4.7 mi·5 min·I 35
Toward I 35 North: MinneapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward 1st Street
24
Keep slight left at fork
256 ft·8 sec
Toward High Trestle TrailUse the left lane.
25
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.5 mi·3 min·East 1st Street
26
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
27
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·2 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
28
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 31 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility for your departure time. You can easily fit this into a morning or afternoon, leaving ample time for activities before or after. With only one recommended stop indicated and a fuel cost estimated around $18, planning is simple. Keep an eye on US 63 for your longest stretch of driving to manage your fuel and rest needs accordingly.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 61.3 miles from Maharishi Vedic City, IA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.4 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 27 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.3 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 1m
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 Maharishi Vedic City, 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 Maharishi Vedic City, IA
This is one driving day of about 122.6 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Maharishi Vedic City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 63 for about 69.4 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 120.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|185th Street
At end of road, turn left onto 185th Street
Navigation decision point
7
5.8 mi into trip|~11m in|US 34 Business
Take the ramp onto US 34 Business toward US 34, IA 163 West: Ottumwa
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 34, IA 163 West: Ottumwa
7
114.4 mi into trip|~2h 18m 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
115.8 mi into trip|~2h 20m 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
120.8 mi into trip|~2h 26m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.17 one way
$38.33 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.04
$42.09
premium
$4.89
$23.59
$47.19
diesel
$5.61
$27.07
$54.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.8
0
$12.87
$5.88
Efficient EV
30.7
0
$10.73
$4.90
EV Truck/SUV
49
0
$17.16
$7.85
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Maharishi Vedic City, IA
Morning
in Maharishi Vedic City on Sunday
Local time
8:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Morning
in Ankeny on Sunday
Local time
8:29 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
19 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
2h 31m 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 route is heavily weighted towards highway travel, with 89% of the journey on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a highway-focused drive for the most part, making for efficient progress. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 69.4 miles on US 63, offering a solid period of consistent cruising. The transition to I 35 will likely feel familiar, maintaining the interstate feel for the latter portion of your trip.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.4 mi on US 63.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 63 and US 34. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near 185th Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 122.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (185th Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles (US 34 Business): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 122.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.4 miles on US 63. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (185th Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles (US 34 Business): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
