Origin
Ankeny, IA
Late night in Ankeny on Wednesday
Local time
1:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ankeny, IA to Aplington, IA
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
1h 59m
Distance
96.8 mi
156 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 51m
★
6 AM
2h 0m
8 AM
2h 17m
10 AM
2h 6m
12 PM
2h 4m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 16m
8 PM
1h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Aplington, IA
Ann H
Trip Overview
This 96.8-mile drive from Ankeny, IA, to Aplington, IA, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in under two hours, making it a perfect day trip. Primarily utilizing I-35 and US-20, the route is heavily highway-focused, accounting for 85% of the drive. With an estimated fuel cost of around $15, this trip is quite budget-friendly. You'll be staying within the Midwest region for this entire excursion. Given its short duration and highway profile, this route is ideal for a quick, efficient transit between these two Iowa locations without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
48.4 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for the vast majority of this 96.8-mile trip, with 85% of the journey on major roads like I-35 and US-20. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 49.3 miles on I-35, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While much of the drive will be on high-speed interstates, you'll also navigate sections of US-20 and County Highway S56, which may offer a slight change of scenery as you progress toward Aplington. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than winding country lanes.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 49.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.8 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 51.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Southwest Walnut Street
Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 1st Street
At end of road, turn right onto West 1st Street
Navigation decision point
4
51.3 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East: Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
5
79 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward CR S56: Ackley, Eldora
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CR S56: Ackley, Eldora
4
79.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
County Highway S56
Turn left onto County Highway S56
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ankeny, IA and Aplington, IA, road signs point toward Cr S56: Ackley and Eldora.
Cr S56: Ackley
79 mi in
|
~1h 30m
Eldora
79 mi in
|
~1h 30m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 49.3 mi | 53m |
| US 20 | 27.2 mi | 31m |
| County Highway S56 | 6.3 mi | 11m |
| IA 57 | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| West Brook Street | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| West 1st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Hardin Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Butler Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 49.3 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Aplington, IA.
1
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
4 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto West 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West 1st Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
5
Merge onto I 35
49 mi
·
53 min
·
I 35
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
7
Merge onto US 20
27 mi
·
31 min
·
US 20
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
Toward CR S56: Ackley, Eldora
9
Turn left onto County Highway S56
6.3 mi
·
11 min
·
County Highway S56
10
Continue on Butler Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Butler Street
11
Keep slight right at fork onto Butler Street
431 ft
·
8 sec
·
Butler Street
12
Turn straight onto IA 57
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Hardin Street
13
Continue on IA 57
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
West Brook Street
14
Turn straight onto IA 57
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
IA 57
15
Arrive at destination
IA 57
Trip Plan
This 1-hour and 59-minute drive is short enough to allow for maximum flexibility; you can depart whenever is most convenient. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, you won't need to worry excessively about frequent refueling stops, though it's always wise to top off before departing Ankeny. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 49.3 miles on I-35, so plan for any personal needs before embarking on that segment. Given the predominantly highway nature, simply follow the signs for I-35 North, then US-20 East, and finally County Highway S56 to reach Aplington efficiently.
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 48.4 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.3 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.4 miles or 55m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aplington, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ankeny, 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 Ankeny, IA
This is one driving day of about 96.8 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ankeny, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 49.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.4 mi from Ankeny, IA · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.4 miles from Ankeny, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Aplington, IA
The final approach into Aplington, 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 Aplington, 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
$15.13 one way
$30.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.62 | $33.23 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.63 | $37.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.37 | $42.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29 | 0 | $10.16 | $4.65 |
| Efficient EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.47 | $3.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.55 | $6.20 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Aplington, IA
Late night in Aplington on Wednesday
Local time
1:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
23 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
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 Ankeny, IA to Aplington, IA covers 96.8 miles and takes about 1h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 20, County Highway S56. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.4 miles from Ankeny, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.13 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.8 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 51.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Between Ankeny, IA and Aplington, IA, road signs point toward Cr S56: Ackley and Eldora.
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