Origin
Ankeny, IA
Night in Ankeny on Wednesday
Local time
11:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ankeny, IA to Audubon, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 56m
Distance
97.1 mi
156 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 48m
★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 1m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Audubon, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Audubon, IA covers 97.1 miles and takes about 1h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Southwest Walnut Street, Southwest Ordnance Road, Southwest State Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.18 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
48.5 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 56m drive with frequent turns across 97.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southwest Walnut Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Audubon, IA is easy. At 1h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ankeny, IA to Audubon, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Walnut Street | — | — |
| Southwest Ordnance Road | — | — |
| Southwest State Street | — | — |
| Northwest 2nd Street | — | — |
| I 80 West | — | — |
| US 6 | — | — |
| 650th Street | — | — |
| Highway 71 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Southwest Walnut Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Audubon, IA.
1
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
49 ft
·
7 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Walnut Street
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Ordnance Road
4
Turn left onto Southwest State Street
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Southwest State Street
5
Continue on Northwest 2nd Street
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
6
Take the ramp slight right
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
7
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
12 min
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha
62 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
I 80 West: Omaha
9
Take the exit slight right toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
10
Turn right onto 650th Street
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
650th Street
11
Continue on Highway 71
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 71
12
Continue on Lincoln Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Street
13
Continue on Highway 71
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Highway 71
14
Continue on South Market Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Market Street
15
Arrive at your destination
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 48.5 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 58m into the drive.
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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.5 miles or 58m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Audubon, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ankeny, IA
This is one driving day of about 97.1 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Ankeny, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.5 mi from Ankeny, IA · 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.5 miles from Ankeny, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Audubon, IA
The final approach into Audubon, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.18 one way
$30.36 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.67 | $33.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.69 | $37.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.44 | $42.88 |
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: 34 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 | 29.1 | 0 | $10.20 | $4.66 |
| Efficient EV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.50 | $3.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.8 | 0 | $13.59 | $6.21 |
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
Audubon, IA
Night in Audubon on Wednesday
Local time
11:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Stuart, IA
49 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
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
1h 56m 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 Audubon, IA covers 97.1 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southwest Walnut Street, Southwest Ordnance Road, Southwest State Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.5 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 $15.18 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.
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Audubon, IA is easy. At 1h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ankeny, IA to Audubon, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Ankeny, IA to Audubon, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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