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Trip from Rockwell City, 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 8m

Distance

109.7 mi

177 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 59m ★
6 AM
2h 8m
8 AM
2h 26m
10 AM
2h 15m
12 PM
2h 13m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 3m

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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Downtown Rockwell City, IA, IA

Rockwell City, IA

Kelly

city in Polk County, Iowa, United States

Ankeny, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 109.7-mile journey from Rockwell City, IA, to Ankeny, IA, is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 8 minutes. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, with no need for an overnight stop. You can expect a fuel cost of approximately $17 for this drive. The route stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

54.9 miles from Rockwell City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 20 54.1 mi 1h 2m
I 35 49.1 mi 53m
Ogden Avenue 2.5 mi 3m
East 1st Street 1.4 mi 3m
1st Street 1.2 mi 2m
Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
Southwest Walnut Street 0.2 mi <1m
4th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 20 — 54.1 mi, about 1h 2m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rockwell City, IA and Ankeny, IA.

1

Start on 4th Street

191 ft · 10 sec · 4th Street
2

Turn right onto Main Street

0.2 mi · 45 sec · Main Street
3

Turn left onto 1st Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · 1st Street
4

Continue on N57

2.5 mi · 3 min · Ogden Avenue
5

Turn right onto US 20

54 mi · 1 hr 2 min · US 20
6

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
7

Merge onto I 35

49 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

Trip Plan

With a total travel time of just over two hours, this route offers flexibility for when you depart. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon should get you to Ankeny with plenty of daylight remaining. Given the relatively short distance, you won't need to worry about extensive stop planning; perhaps a quick break at a rest area or a town along US 20 would suffice. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 54.1-mile stretch on US 20, as services might be more spaced out.

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 54.9 miles from Rockwell City, IA, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.1 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 24 miles or 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 54.9 miles or 1h 5m 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 44m

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 Rockwell 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 Rockwell City, IA

This is one driving day of about 109.7 miles and 2h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Rockwell City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 54.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Story County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ames, IA

55 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

Fort Dodge, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Webster City, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 54.9 miles from Rockwell City, 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.

Nearby Places

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

Top Restaurant

Ankeny Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ankeny, Iowa

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 109.7

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+15159649897

Cafe Diem

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ankeny, Iowa

1.4 mi

Main Street Cafe & Bakery (Ankeny)

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ankeny, Iowa

2.1 mi

Top Coffee Stop

KaffeGeita

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Story City, Iowa

Later in the drive, short detour

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

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+15157332029

Visit website

Morning Bell Coffee Roasters

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ames, Iowa

2.6 mi

Cafe Diem

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ames, Iowa

2.7 mi

Ankeny Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 109.7

Ankeny, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+15159649897

Cafe Diem

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 109.7

Ankeny, Iowa

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+15159647374

Visit website

Main Street Cafe & Bakery (Ankeny)

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 109.7

Ankeny, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+15159647141

Visit website

It's My Jam Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 109.7

Ankeny, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+15158955526

Visit website

Potter’s Shoppe & Eatery

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+15159164389

Visit website

The Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+15152920100

Visit website

Burgie's Coffee | South Ames

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour Moderately mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+15152339004

Visit website

The Mucky Duck Pub

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour Moderately mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15152328888

Visit website

KaffeGeita

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

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

Story City, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+15157332029

Visit website

Morning Bell Coffee Roasters

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Cafe Diem

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+15159563556

Visit website

Vinyl Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+15154602116

Juniper & Olive Co.

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $20 to $30 mile 70.5

Jewell, Iowa

Hours: Closed

+15155098435

Visit website

Labyrinth Coffee

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10 mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

Visit website

Bookends Cafe

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 7:30 am–5 pm

+15152941383

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Red E Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 47

Webster City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 47

Webster City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

Discover Ames

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 86.2

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–4:30 pm

+15152324032

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 and 109.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Main Street

Turn right onto Main Street

Navigation decision point

5
58.7 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in | I 35

Merge onto I 35

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
107.8 mi into trip | ~2h 3m in

Take the exit toward 1st Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 92 Toward 1st Street
5
108.1 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
109.7 mi into trip | ~2h 8m in | Southwest 3rd Street

Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.15 one way

$34.30 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 38 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $18.83 $37.66
premium $4.89 $21.11 $42.22
diesel $5.61 $24.22 $48.44

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 38.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 32.9 0 $11.52 $5.27
Efficient EV 27.4 0 $9.60 $4.39
EV Truck/SUV 43.9 0 $15.36 $7.02

Gas CO2

38 kg

EV CO2

13 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

Rockwell City, IA

Morning in Rockwell City on Sunday

Local time

8:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ankeny, IA

Morning in Ankeny on Sunday

Local time

8:41 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

21 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 8m 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?

This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 94% of the route utilizing higher-speed roads. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 54.1 miles on US 20, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. The character is largely that of a consistent highway experience, designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration. Expect straightforward driving conditions as you navigate between these Iowa communities.

94% 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: 54.1 mi on US 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 8m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 58.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 109.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 54.1 miles on US 20. 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: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 58.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.8 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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