Mount Pleasant, IA to Ankeny, IA is 142.9 miles and takes about 2h 51m via US 63 and I 35, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest route keeps you primarily on highways, making it a straightforward trip between two points in Iowa. You'll be covering just over 140 miles, a distance that's very manageable for a single day's travel. Plan for around $22 in fuel costs, and with a driving time under three hours, you'll have plenty of flexibility for when you depart. It's a practical choice if you need to get from A to B efficiently within the state.
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
71.5 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 63
69.4 mi
1h 20m
US 34
54.5 mi
1h 2m
I 35
4.7 mi
5m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
3.8 mi
4m
235th Street
2.4 mi
3m
East 1st Street
1.5 mi
3m
West Washington Street
1.3 mi
2m
I 80
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 69.4 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Pleasant, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on South White Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·South White Street
2
Turn left onto US 34 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·West Washington Street
3
Continue on US 34 Business
2.4 mi·3 min·235th Street
4
Take the ramp onto US 34 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·US 34 Business
Toward US 34, IA 163 West: Fairfield, Ottumwa
5
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
55 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 34; IA 163
6
Continue on US 63; IA 163
69 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 63; IA 163
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
8
Merge onto US 65
3.8 mi·4 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
9
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 84Toward 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 137BToward I-35 north: MinneapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·42 sec·this road
Exit 137BToward I-35 north: Minneapolis
13
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·52 sec·this road
Exit 137BToward I-35 North: Minneapolis
14
Merge onto I 35
4.7 mi·5 min·I 35
Toward I 35 North: MinneapolisUse 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 TrailUse 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
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under three hours, you have the flexibility to leave Mount Pleasant at your convenience. Consider an early start to maximize your day at your destination in Ankeny, or depart mid-morning to avoid rush hour traffic. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimate of $22, you won't need extensive planning for services. The longest stretch without a major road change is over 69 miles on US 63, so ensure you're fueled up before embarking on that segment. This is a drive where you can truly just get going.
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 71.5 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA, or about 1h 25m 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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.5 miles or 1h 25m 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 18m
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 Pleasant, 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 Pleasant, IA
This is one driving day of about 142.9 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Mount Pleasant, 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 132.8 and 142.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
132.8 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
7
134.8 mi into trip|~2h 38m 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
136.2 mi into trip|~2h 41m 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
141.2 mi into trip|~2h 47m 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
142.9 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.34 one way
$44.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.53
$49.06
premium
$4.89
$27.50
$55.00
diesel
$5.61
$31.55
$63.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.9
0
$15.00
$6.86
Efficient EV
35.7
0
$12.50
$5.72
EV Truck/SUV
57.2
0
$20.01
$9.15
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 18, 2026
Origin
Mount Pleasant, IA
Night
in Mount Pleasant on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Night
in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Sunny
WNW 13 to 21 mph1% chanceLive 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
21 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
2h 51m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the journey on major roads. You'll experience stretches of consistent speed, including a significant 69.4-mile segment on US 63. The profile suggests a predominantly fast-paced experience, ideal for making good time. While the majority is highway, be prepared for the transition as you approach your destination. This route prioritizes direct travel over winding scenic byways, so expect a steady pace for most of the 2 hours and 51 minutes.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?
7/10
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 132.8 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 142.9 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 132.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 134.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 136.2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
993 ft717 ft
Total Climb
347 ft
Total Descent
119 ft
Highest Point
993 ft
~142.9 mi in
Elevation Range
276 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 142.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). 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 132.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 134.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 136.2 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.
