Origin
Melcher-Dallas, IA
Late night in Melcher-Dallas on Tuesday
Local time
4:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Melcher-Dallas, 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 6m
Distance
48.8 mi
79 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Melcher-Dallas, IA
Talena Reese
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 48.8-mile drive from Melcher-Dallas to Ankeny, Iowa, is a straightforward, one-day trip that takes about 1 hour and 6 minutes to complete. It's a convenient option for a quick excursion within the Midwest region, with an estimated fuel cost of $8. The route is primarily composed of state and county roads, offering a mixed driving experience. Since it's a relatively short journey with no recommended stops, you'll have plenty of flexibility to depart at your convenience and arrive with ample time for activities at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 5 | 18.2 mi | 20m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| County Road S45 | 9.2 mi | 16m |
| I 35 | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| East 1st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| I 80 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Northeast Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 5
— 18.2 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Melcher-Dallas, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on CR S45
462 ft
·
14 sec
·
Northeast Main Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto CR S45
367 ft
·
9 sec
·
B Street Northwest
3
Turn right onto CR S45
461 ft
·
9 sec
·
1st Street Northwest
4
Continue on CR S45
9.2 mi
·
16 min
·
County Road S45
5
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
this road
6
Continue on IA 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 5
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
8
Merge onto US 65
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
9
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
10
Merge onto I 80
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
13
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 North: Minneapolis
14
Merge onto I 35
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
I 35
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward 1st Street
16
Keep slight left at fork
256 ft
·
8 sec
Toward High Trestle Trail
Use the left lane.
17
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
18
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
19
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
20
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.4 miles from Melcher-Dallas, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 47 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR S45 / B Street Northwest
At end of road, turn left onto CR S45 / B Street Northwest
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR S45 / 1st Street Northwest
Turn right onto CR S45 / 1st Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
7
40.7 mi into trip
|
~52m 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
42 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
47 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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
$7.63 one way
$15.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.38 | $16.75 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.39 | $18.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.77 | $21.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.83 | $3.12 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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
4:01 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
60°F
Pleasant Hill, IA
24 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
26 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 6m 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?
You'll experience a mixed drive on this route, with 49% of it on highways. The journey unfolds across State Highway 5, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway, and County Road S45. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18.2 miles on State Highway 5. Expect a blend of faster-paced highway segments and potentially slower local road sections as you make your way toward Ankeny.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.2 mi on State Highway 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR S45 / B Street Northwest.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (CR S45 / B Street Northwest): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (CR S45 / 1st Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 40.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 6m. Total distance: 48.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.2 miles on State Highway 5. 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: at 0.1 miles (CR S45 / B Street Northwest): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (CR S45 / 1st Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 40.7 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.
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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