This 91.9-mile drive from Sigourney to Ankeny, Iowa, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in under two hours. It's a perfect day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The route is predominantly highway-focused, making it an efficient way to travel between these two Midwest locations. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, it's also a budget-friendly option. You'll primarily be on IA 163 and IA-92 before transitioning to West Jackson Street for the final approach.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46 miles from Sigourney, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IA 163
51.9 mi
1h
IA-92
13.8 mi
20m
West Jackson Street
7.7 mi
10m
I 35
4.7 mi
5m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
3.8 mi
4m
A Avenue East
3 mi
5m
East 1st Street
1.5 mi
3m
I 80
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
IA 163
— 51.9 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sigourney, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on East Washington Street
148 ft·8 sec·East Washington Street
2
Turn right onto IA 149
0.2 mi·25 sec·North Main Street
3
Turn left onto IA 92
7.7 mi·10 min·West Jackson Street
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·42 sec
5
Continue on IA 92
14 mi·20 min·IA-92
6
Continue on IA 92
3.0 mi·5 min·A Avenue East
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
8
Merge onto IA 163
52 mi·1 hr·IA 163
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
10
Merge onto US 65
3.8 mi·4 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
11
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 84Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
12
Merge onto I 80
0.9 mi·1 min·I 80
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 137BToward I-35 north: MinneapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·42 sec·this road
Exit 137BToward I-35 north: Minneapolis
15
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·52 sec·this road
Exit 137BToward I-35 North: Minneapolis
16
Merge onto I 35
4.7 mi·5 min·I 35
Toward I 35 North: MinneapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward 1st Street
18
Keep slight left at fork
256 ft·8 sec
Toward High Trestle TrailUse the left lane.
19
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.5 mi·3 min·East 1st Street
20
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
21
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·2 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
22
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Sigourney in the morning should get you to Ankeny with plenty of daylight. Since there are no specified stops, plan to fuel up before you leave Sigourney to avoid any potential interruptions, especially during the 51.9-mile stretch on IA 163. The $14 fuel cost is a good estimate to keep in mind for your budget. You can easily make this trip in one go without needing a break.
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 46 miles from Sigourney, IA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.9 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 20 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46 miles or 1h 2m 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 36m
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 Sigourney, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sigourney, IA
This is one driving day of about 91.9 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Sigourney, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 163 for about 51.9 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 81.7 and 91.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
81.7 mi into trip|~1h 43m 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
83.8 mi into trip|~1h 46m 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
85.2 mi into trip|~1h 48m 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
90.2 mi into trip|~1h 54m 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
91.9 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.37 one way
$28.74 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.77
$31.55
premium
$4.89
$17.69
$35.37
diesel
$5.61
$20.29
$40.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.2 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
27.6
0
$9.65
$4.41
Efficient EV
23
0
$8.04
$3.68
EV Truck/SUV
36.8
0
$12.87
$5.88
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 17, 2026
Origin
Sigourney, IA
Late night
in Sigourney on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
S 15 to 25 mph80% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Late night
in Ankeny on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 22 mph32% chanceLive forecast
51°F
Monroe, IA
46 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
2 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 59m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this journey, with about 78% of the route utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 51.9 miles along IA 163, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your trip. While primarily highway, the transition through different road numbers suggests a varied, though still efficient, driving experience. The road character remains largely consistent, prioritizing direct travel.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.9 mi on IA 163.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 163 and IA-92. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 81.7 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 81.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 83.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 91.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.9 miles on IA 163. 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 81.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 83.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.2 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.
