Origin
Story City, IA
Night in Story City on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Story 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
41m
Distance
34.7 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Story City, IA
Kelly
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion between Story City and Ankeny, you will find this 34.7-mile connection straightforward and efficient. Lasting roughly 41 minutes, the journey is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stops. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $5, this route is an economical choice for travelers navigating the Iowa landscape. Because both towns are situated within the Midwest, the transition between them is seamless and familiar. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a brief visit, the lack of necessary stops makes this a highly manageable drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 31.2 mi | 33m |
| East 1st Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Broad Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Southwest 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 31.2 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Story City, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on Pennsylvania Avenue
51 ft
·
7 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR E15
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Broad Street
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I-35 south: Des Moines
4
Merge onto I 35
31 mi
·
33 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
6
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft
·
9 sec
7
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
8
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
9
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
10
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 34.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR E15 / Broad Street
Turn left onto CR E15 / Broad Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
32.8 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
33.1 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
34.7 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.42 one way
$10.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.96 | $11.91 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.68 | $13.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.66 | $15.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.64 | $1.67 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.86 | $2.22 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Night in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
41m 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 focused, highway-heavy experience, as 90% of your travel takes place on high-speed roads. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-35, which accounts for a 31.2-mile stretch of uninterrupted driving. This interstate segment dominates the route, offering a consistent pace before you transition to local roads like East 1st Street and Broad Street as you approach your destination. The drive feels utilitarian and direct rather than winding or scenic, making it an ideal choice if you prioritize speed and efficiency over leisurely backroads.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.2 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and East 1st Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR E15 / Broad Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 41m drive. You will face about 7 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 (CR E15 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,058 ft
873 ft
Total Climb
278 ft
Total Descent
292 ft
Highest Point
1,058 ft
~8.7 mi in
Elevation Range
185 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 41m. Total distance: 34.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.2 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (CR E15 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.8 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Ankeny, IA
More from Story City, IA
More trips to Ankeny, IA
Explore more options from Story City, IA or browse trips ending in Ankeny, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.