Skip to main content

Trip from Ankeny, IA to Corydon, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 1m

Distance

84.6 mi

136 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 53m ★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 19m
8 PM
1h 57m

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

city in Polk County, Iowa, United States

Ankeny, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Corydon, IA, IA

Corydon, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Ankeny, IA to Corydon, IA covers 84.6 miles and takes about 2h 1m 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, West 1st Street, I-35 south for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.23 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

42.3 miles from Ankeny, IA

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

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 84.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 1m 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 1m drive with frequent turns across 84.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Ankeny, IA to Corydon, IA is easy. At 2h 1m 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 Corydon, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Southwest Walnut Street
West 1st Street
I-35 south
I 35 South
I 80 East
US 65 South
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
IA 5 South

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 Corydon, IA.

1

Start on Southwest 3rd Street

49 ft · 4 sec · Southwest 3rd Street
2

Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Southwest Walnut Street
3

At the end of the road, turn right onto West 1st Street

1.4 mi · 3 min · West 1st Street
4

Take the ramp slight right toward I-35 south: Des Moines

0.4 mi · 31 sec · I-35 south: Des Moines
5

Merge slight left

4.7 mi · 5 min
6

Keep slight right to continue on I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport

0.2 mi · 13 sec · I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
7

Take the exit slight left toward I 80 East: Davenport

0.8 mi · 2 min · I 80 East: Davenport
8

Merge slight right

2.6 mi · 2 min
9

Take the exit slight right toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
10

Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

11 mi · 12 min · Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
11

Take the exit slight right toward IA 5 South: Carlisle

0.6 mi · 1 min · IA 5 South: Carlisle
12

Continue straight

19 mi · 21 min
13

Continue on County Road S45

3.7 mi · 6 min · County Road S45
14

Keep slight left to continue on County Road S45

5.5 mi · 9 min · County Road S45
15

Continue on 1st Street Northwest

463 ft · 15 sec · 1st Street Northwest
16

Turn left onto B Street Northwest

367 ft · 10 sec · B Street Northwest
17

Turn right onto Northeast Main Street

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Northeast Main Street
18

Continue on South Main Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
19

At the end of the road, turn right onto County Highway G76

0.5 mi · 59 sec · County Highway G76
20

Turn left onto County Highway S45

1.9 mi · 3 min · County Highway S45
21

Continue on 50th Place

1.7 mi · 2 min · 50th Place
22

Continue on 260th Avenue

3.6 mi · 6 min · 260th Avenue
23

Turn right onto State Highway 14

6.4 mi · 9 min · State Highway 14
24

Continue on North 7th Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · North 7th Street
25

Turn right onto Woodlawn Avenue

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Woodlawn Avenue
26

Continue on State Highway 14

492 ft · 8 sec · State Highway 14
27

Continue on South Main Street

0.4 mi · 39 sec · South Main Street
28

Continue on State Highway 14

16 mi · 24 min · State Highway 14
29

Continue on North Washington Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Washington Street
30

At the end of the road, turn left onto East Jackson Street

243 ft · 6 sec · East Jackson Street
31

Turn right onto North Lafayette Street

459 ft · 10 sec · North Lafayette Street
32

Turn right onto East Jefferson Street

459 ft · 13 sec · East Jefferson Street
33

Turn left onto South Franklin Street

85 ft · 4 sec · South Franklin Street
34

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 42.3 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 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 19 miles or 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 42.3 miles or 1h 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 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Corydon, 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 84.6 miles and 2h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 42.3 mi from Ankeny, IA · 1h into the drive

city in Polk County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Altoona, IA

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

Altoona, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Altoona, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.3 miles from Ankeny, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Corydon, IA

The final approach into Corydon, 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 Corydon, 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

$13.23 one way

$26.45 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.52 $29.04
premium $4.89 $16.28 $32.56
diesel $5.61 $18.68 $37.36

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: 29.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.4 0 $8.88 $4.06
Efficient EV 21.2 0 $7.40 $3.38
EV Truck/SUV 33.8 0 $11.84 $5.41

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (67% 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

Morning in Ankeny on Saturday

Local time

9:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Corydon, IA

Morning in Corydon on Saturday

Local time

9:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Altoona, IA

42 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

19 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 1m 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 Corydon, IA covers 84.6 miles and takes about 2h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Southwest Walnut Street, West 1st Street, I-35 south. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 42.3 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 $13.23 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 Corydon, IA is easy. At 2h 1m 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 Corydon, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Ankeny, IA to Corydon, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Corydon, IA to Ankeny, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

83.3 mi 2h

Explore more options from Ankeny, IA or browse trips ending in Corydon, IA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.