Origin
Ankeny, IA
Night in Ankeny on Wednesday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ankeny, IA to Belmond, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 43m
Distance
84 mi
135 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 47m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 58m
8 PM
1h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Belmond, IA
Uiliam Nörnberg
Trip Overview
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Belmond, IA covers 84 miles and takes about 1h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, Little Wall Lake Road, US 69 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.6 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.13 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
42 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 43m highway drive covering 84 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and Little Wall Lake Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 49.6 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 14 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 49.6 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,234 ft
873 ft
Total Climb
437 ft
Total Descent
253 ft
Highest Point
1,234 ft
~66 mi in
Elevation Range
361 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Little Wall Lake Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 43m 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: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 51.6 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
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
51.6 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
4
55.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward US 69
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 69
5
84 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
|
2nd Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 49.6 mi | 53m |
| Little Wall Lake Road | 19.5 mi | 26m |
| US 69 | 8 mi | 11m |
| US 20 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| West 1st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| 220th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 49.6 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Belmond, 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
50 mi
·
53 min
·
I 35
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
7
Merge onto US 20
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
US 20
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward US 69
9
Turn right onto US 69
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Little Wall Lake Road
10
Turn right onto US 69; IA 3
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
220th Street
11
Turn straight onto US 69; IA 3
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
US 69; IA 3
12
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Main Street
13
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue Northeast
61 ft
·
2 sec
·
2nd Avenue Northeast
14
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue Northeast
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 42 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.6 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42 miles or 48m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belmond, 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 84 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Ankeny, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 49.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42 mi from Ankeny, IA · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42 miles from Ankeny, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Belmond, IA
The final approach into Belmond, 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
$13.13 one way
$26.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.42 | $28.84 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.17 | $32.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.55 | $37.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.2 | 0 | $8.82 | $4.03 |
| Efficient EV | 21 | 0 | $7.35 | $3.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.6 | 0 | $11.76 | $5.38 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Belmond, IA
Night in Belmond on Wednesday
Local time
9:44 PM
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 43m 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 Belmond, IA covers 84 miles and takes about 1h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, Little Wall Lake Road, US 69. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42 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 $13.13 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 is a straightforward 1h 43m drive. You will face about 10 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 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Ankeny, IA to Belmond, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 873 ft to 1,234 ft elevation with about 437 ft of total climbing.
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