Origin
Algona, IA
Morning in Algona on Friday
Local time
8:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Algona, IA to Ankeny, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 39m
Distance
127.1 mi
205 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 29m
★
6 AM
2h 39m
8 AM
3h 0m
10 AM
2h 47m
12 PM
2h 45m
3 PM
2h 48m
5 PM
2h 59m
8 PM
2h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Algona, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Algona, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 127.1 miles and takes about 2h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, US 20, Lincoln Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.1 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.87 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
63.5 miles from Algona, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 39m. Total distance: 127.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 39m highway drive covering 127.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and US 20. The longest continuous stretch is about 49.1 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 49.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 44.2 miles in.
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 2h 39m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 44.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 76 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
44.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Turn left toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
5
76 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
125.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 34m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
125.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 35m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
127.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 39m in
|
Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 49.1 mi | 53m |
| US 20 | 30.7 mi | 35m |
| Lincoln Avenue | 30.1 mi | 41m |
| South Phillips Street | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| US Highway 169 | 4 mi | 5m |
| East 1st Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| 13th Street South | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| 13th Street North | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 49.1 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Algona, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on US 169
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Jones Street
2
Turn left onto East McGregor Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
East McGregor Street
3
Turn right onto US 169
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Phillips Street
4
Continue on US 169
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
US Highway 169
5
Continue on US 169
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
South Phillips Street
6
Continue on US 169
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
120th Avenue
7
Continue on US 169
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Lincoln Avenue
8
Continue on US 169
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
13th Street North
9
Continue on US 169
377 ft
·
8 sec
·
Lincoln Avenue
10
Continue on US 169
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
13th Street South
11
Continue on US 169
19 mi
·
25 min
·
Lincoln Avenue
12
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 20 East
13
Merge onto US 20
31 mi
·
35 min
·
US 20
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
15
Merge onto I 35
49 mi
·
53 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
17
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft
·
9 sec
18
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
19
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
20
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
21
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
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 63.5 miles from Algona, IA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.1 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 28 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.5 miles or 1h 26m 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 11m
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 Algona, 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 Algona, IA
This is one driving day of about 127.1 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Algona, 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 I 35 for about 49.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 63.5 mi from Algona, IA · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 63.5 miles from Algona, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ankeny, IA
The final approach into Ankeny, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Ankeny, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.87 one way
$39.74 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.82 | $43.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.46 | $48.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.06 | $56.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.1 | 0 | $13.35 | $6.10 |
| Efficient EV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.12 | $5.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.8 | 0 | $17.79 | $8.13 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Morning in Ankeny on Friday
Local time
8:14 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
22 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 39m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Algona, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 127.1 miles and takes about 2h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 20, Lincoln Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 63.5 miles from Algona, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.87 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 39m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 44.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 76 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Algona, IA to Ankeny, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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