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Trip from Ankeny, IA to Urbana, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 31m

Distance

116.2 mi

187 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 21m ★
6 AM
2h 32m
8 AM
2h 52m
10 AM
2h 39m
12 PM
2h 37m
3 PM
2h 40m
5 PM
2h 51m
8 PM
2h 26m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Polk County, Iowa, United States

Ankeny, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Urbana, IA, IA

Urbana, IA

Quang Nguyen Vinh

Trip Overview

The drive from Ankeny, IA to Urbana, IA covers 116.2 miles and takes about 2h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, 73rd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37 miles on Lincoln Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.17 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

58.1 miles from Ankeny, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 116.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 31m drive with frequent turns across 116.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lincoln Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 37 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 31m drive. You will face about 12 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 90.7 miles (CR E44 / 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These 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

5
90.7 mi into trip | ~1h 53m in | CR E44 / 1st Avenue

Turn right onto CR E44 / 1st Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
115.2 mi into trip | ~2h 29m in | 55th Street

Enter roundabout onto 55th Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
116.2 mi into trip | ~2h 31m in | West Wood Street

Turn left onto West Wood Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Lincoln Highway 37 mi 42m
Northeast Hubbell Road 28 mi 32m
73rd Street 11.7 mi 13m
24th Avenue 10 mi 14m
Northeast 94th Avenue 8.5 mi 13m
55th Street 7.1 mi 9m
24th Avenue Drive 3.8 mi 5m
21st Avenue 2.9 mi 5m
Longest stretch: Lincoln Highway — 37 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Urbana, 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

1.8 mi · 4 min · West 1st Street
4

Continue on Northeast 94th Avenue

8.5 mi · 13 min · Northeast 94th Avenue
5

Turn left onto US 65; IA 330

28 mi · 32 min · Northeast Hubbell Road
6

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
7

Merge onto US 30

37 mi · 42 min · Lincoln Highway
8

Continue on US 30

12 mi · 13 min · 73rd Street
9

Turn left onto CR V66

2.9 mi · 5 min · 21st Avenue
10

Continue on CR V66

0.1 mi · 17 sec · 1st Street
11

Turn right onto CR E44

0.3 mi · 29 sec · 1st Avenue
12

Continue on State Highway 199

0.1 mi · 10 sec · State Highway 199
13

Continue on CR E44

2.5 mi · 4 min · 70th Street
14

Turn left onto US 218

10.0 mi · 14 min · 24th Avenue
15

Turn straight onto IA 150

0.2 mi · 16 sec · State Highway 150
16

Continue on IA 150

1.1 mi · 1 min · C Avenue
17

Turn right onto IA 150

0.2 mi · 20 sec · West 2nd Street
18

Turn left onto IA 150

3.8 mi · 5 min · 24th Avenue Drive
19

Turn straight onto IA 150

6.4 mi · 8 min · 55th Street
20

Enter roundabout onto 55th Street

151 ft · 2 sec · 55th Street
21

Continue on 55th Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · 55th Street
22

Turn right onto Ash Avenue

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Ash Avenue
23

Turn left onto West Wood Street

427 ft · 11 sec · West Wood Street
24

Arrive at destination

West Wood 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 58.1 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37 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 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 58.1 miles or 1h 13m 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

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Urbana, 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 116.2 miles and 2h 31m.

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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Lincoln Highway for about 37 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 58.1 mi from Ankeny, IA · 1h 13m into the drive

city and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marshalltown, IA

58 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

Colfax, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tama, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 58.1 miles from Ankeny, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Urbana, IA

The final approach into Urbana, 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 Urbana, IA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Tremont on Main Restaurants and Inn

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 41.5

Marshalltown, Iowa

+16417521234

Visit website

Benola’s Pub & Patio

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 24.9

Baxter, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+16412272080

Visit website

Red E Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 41.5

Marshalltown, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Blink Charging Station

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 41.5

Marshalltown, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.17 one way

$36.33 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $19.95 $39.89
premium $4.89 $22.36 $44.72
diesel $5.61 $25.66 $51.31

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: 40.7 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 34.9 0 $12.20 $5.58
Efficient EV 29.1 0 $10.17 $4.65
EV Truck/SUV 46.5 0 $16.27 $7.44

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Ankeny, IA

Afternoon in Ankeny on Friday

Local time

2:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Urbana, IA

Afternoon in Urbana on Friday

Local time

2:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°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

21 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

2h 31m 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 Urbana, IA covers 116.2 miles and takes about 2h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, 73rd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 58.1 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 $18.17 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 31m drive. You will face about 12 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 90.7 miles (CR E44 / 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point.

The route from Ankeny, IA to Urbana, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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