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Trip from Mount Ayr, 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

2h 3m

Distance

99.8 mi

161 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 54m ★
6 AM
2h 3m
8 AM
2h 21m
10 AM
2h 9m
12 PM
2h 7m
3 PM
2h 10m
5 PM
2h 20m
8 PM
1h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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human settlement in Ringgold County, Iowa, United States of America

Mount Ayr, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Polk County, Iowa, United States

Ankeny, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 99.8-mile drive from Mount Ayr, IA, to Ankeny, IA, is a straightforward, single-day trip taking approximately 2 hours and 3 minutes. Primarily utilizing I 35, this route is an efficient way to travel between two points within the Midwest. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, it's an economical option for a quick journey. You won't need to break this drive up, making it ideal for a day trip where you can focus on reaching your destination without extended stops. The highway-focused profile means you'll spend most of your time on faster roads.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

49.9 miles from Mount Ayr, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35 71.2 mi 1h 17m
State Highway 2 20.6 mi 29m
Northwest 2nd Street 2.8 mi 4m
Southwest State Street 2.5 mi 4m
Southwest Ordnance Road 0.9 mi 1m
East South Street 0.5 mi <1m
Southwest Walnut Street 0.4 mi 1m
South Hayes Street 0.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 35 — 71.2 mi, about 1h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mount Ayr, IA and Ankeny, IA.

1

Start on East Madison Street

0.1 mi · 27 sec · East Madison Street
2

Turn right onto South Hayes Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · South Hayes Street
3

Turn left onto US 169; IA 2

0.5 mi · 44 sec · East South Street
4

Continue on IA 2

21 mi · 29 min · State Highway 2
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
6

Merge onto I 35

71 mi · 1 hr 17 min · I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Exit 135 Toward IA 415: Polk City Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Turn left onto IA 415

2.8 mi · 4 min · Northwest 2nd Street
9

Continue on IA 415

2.5 mi · 4 min · Southwest State Street
10

Turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Southwest Ordnance Road
11

Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Southwest Walnut Street
12

Turn right onto Southwest 3rd Street

48 ft · 2 sec · Southwest 3rd Street
13

Arrive at destination

Southwest 3rd Street

Trip Plan

Given its short duration of just over 2 hours, this route offers considerable flexibility. You can depart Mount Ayr at your leisure, perhaps after a relaxed breakfast. Since there are no designated stops in the data and the longest stretch is over 70 miles, plan one brief fuel or rest stop if needed, likely on I 35. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the longer interstate segment to ensure you have enough to comfortably reach Ankeny. The minimal travel time allows you to maximize your time at your destination.

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 49.9 miles from Mount Ayr, IA, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.2 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 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 49.9 miles or 1h 3m 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 38m

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 Mount Ayr, 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 Mount Ayr, IA

This is one driving day of about 99.8 miles and 2h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Mount Ayr, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 71.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Osceola, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Osceola, IA

50 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

Leon, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Osceola, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 49.9 miles from Mount Ayr, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Hitchin Post Bar And Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Bevington, Iowa

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 64.2

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+15154621908

Visit website

Cuban Flavor

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Osceola, Iowa

1.4 mi

El Toreado Restaurant Bar & Grill . EP True

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

West Des Moines, Iowa

1.8 mi

Hitchin Post Bar And Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 64.2

Bevington, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+15154621908

Visit website

Cuban Flavor

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 42.8

Osceola, Iowa

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+16414140012

Visit website

El Toreado Restaurant Bar & Grill . EP True

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 78.4

West Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15152262182

Visit website

Chowrastha Indian Grill & Eatery - Indian Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 78.4

West Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+15153481054

Visit website

Machine Shed Restaurant Urbandale

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 85.6

Urbandale, Iowa

Hours: 6:30 am–9 pm

+15152706818

Visit website

Urbandale Clubhouse And Restaurant

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 85.6

Urbandale, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–12 pm

+15152765496

Visit website

Sol-Agave Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 85.6

Grimes, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15152142975

Visit website

Mi Mexico Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 85.6

Clive, Iowa

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+15152226933

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 85.6

Grimes, Iowa

+18006360986

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 85.6

Urbandale, Iowa

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 85.6

Grimes, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 85.6

Grimes, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 85.6

Grimes, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 85.6

Grimes, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Red E Charging Station

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 85.6

Waukee, Iowa

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 85.6

Waukee, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 92.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Hayes Street

Turn right onto South Hayes Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 169; IA 2 / East South Street

Turn left onto US 169; IA 2 / East South Street

Navigation decision point

4
21.5 mi into trip | ~32m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

5
21.8 mi into trip | ~32m in | I 35

Merge onto I 35

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
92.9 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in

Take the exit toward IA 415: Polk City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 135 Toward IA 415: Polk City

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.60 one way

$31.21 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $17.13 $34.26
premium $4.89 $19.21 $38.41
diesel $5.61 $22.03 $44.07

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: 34.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.9 0 $10.48 $4.79
Efficient EV 25 0 $8.73 $3.99
EV Truck/SUV 39.9 0 $13.97 $6.39

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (66% 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

Mount Ayr, IA

Late night in Mount Ayr on Sunday

Local time

2:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ankeny, IA

Late night in Ankeny on Sunday

Local time

2:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

73°F

Osceola, IA

50 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

18 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 3m 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 predominantly highway-focused drive, with 92% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 35. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 71.2 miles on I 35, offering a consistent pace. The journey transitions from State Highway 2 and local roads like Northwest 2nd Street in Mount Ayr onto the faster interstate, creating a clear shift in driving experience. This highway-centric profile suggests a drive characterized by efficiency and straightforward navigation for the majority of the trip.

92% 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: 71.2 mi on I 35.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and State Highway 2. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Hayes Street.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Mount Ayr, IA to Ankeny, IA is easy. At 2h 3m with 92% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Hayes Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 169; IA 2 / East South Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles: Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 99.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 71.2 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: at 0.1 miles (South Hayes Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 169; IA 2 / East South Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles: Navigation decision point.

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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