Origin
Ankeny, IA
Night in Ankeny on Thursday
Local time
11:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ankeny, IA to Orange, IA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
2h 17m
Distance
117.2 mi
189 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 8m
★
6 AM
2h 17m
8 AM
2h 36m
10 AM
2h 24m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 35m
8 PM
2h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Orange, IA
Laura Lumimaa
Trip Overview
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Orange, IA covers 117.2 miles and takes about 2h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, I 35, Ansborough Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62.1 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.32 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.
Midpoint
58.6 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 117.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 17m highway drive covering 117.2 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and I 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 62.1 miles on US 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 62.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 Southwest Walnut 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 17m drive. You will face about 9 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 (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 9 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
4
114 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m in
Take the exit toward Ansborough Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Ansborough Avenue
4
116 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
|
West Orange Road
Turn left onto West Orange Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 62.1 mi | 1h 11m |
| I 35 | 49.3 mi | 53m |
| Ansborough Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| West 1st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| West Orange Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Kimball Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Southwest 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 62.1 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Orange, 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
62 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
US 20
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward Ansborough Avenue
9
Turn right onto Ansborough Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Ansborough Avenue
10
Turn left onto West Orange Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Orange Road
11
Turn right onto Kimball Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Kimball Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Kimball Avenue
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58.6 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.1 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 26 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.6 miles or 1h 7m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orange, 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 117.2 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Ankeny, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 62.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.6 mi from Ankeny, IA · 1h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58.6 miles from Ankeny, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.1 miles.
Arriving in Orange, IA
The final approach into Orange, 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 Orange, 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
$18.32 one way
$36.65 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.12 | $40.24 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.55 | $45.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.88 | $51.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41 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 | 35.2 | 0 | $12.31 | $5.63 |
| Efficient EV | 29.3 | 0 | $10.25 | $4.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.9 | 0 | $16.41 | $7.50 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Orange, IA
Night in Orange on Thursday
Local time
11:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Gilbert, IA
59 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
1 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 17m 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 Orange, IA covers 117.2 miles and takes about 2h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, I 35, Ansborough 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 58.6 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 $18.32 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 is a straightforward 2h 17m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
The route from Ankeny, IA to Orange, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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