Origin
Ankeny, IA
Afternoon in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
12:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ankeny, IA to Denver, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 35m
Distance
128.8 mi
207 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 25m
★
6 AM
2h 36m
8 AM
2h 57m
10 AM
2h 43m
12 PM
2h 41m
3 PM
2h 44m
5 PM
2h 56m
8 PM
2h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Denver, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Denver, IA covers 128.8 miles and takes about 2h 35m 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, US 20 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.14 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
64.4 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Walnut Street | — | — |
| West 1st Street | — | — |
| US 20 East | — | — |
| CR D18 | — | — |
| Grundy Road | — | — |
| University Avenue | — | — |
| Greenhill Road | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
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 Denver, 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
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West 1st Street
4
Take the ramp slight left
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
5
Merge slight left
49 mi
·
53 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 East: Waterloo
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 20 East: Waterloo
7
Merge slight left
54 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward CR D18: Cedar Falls
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
CR D18: Cedar Falls
9
Turn left onto Grundy Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Grundy Road
10
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
University Avenue
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Greenhill Road
7 ft
·
Greenhill Road
12
Exit the roundabout onto Greenhill Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Greenhill Road
13
Turn left onto Avenue of the Saints
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit slight right toward US 218 South: Waterloo
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 218 South: Waterloo
15
Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
16
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway Street: Airport
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Street: Airport
17
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Airport Boulevard
18
Turn right onto West Airline Highway
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Airline Highway
19
Turn left onto Logan Avenue
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Logan Avenue
20
Continue on Larrabee Avenue
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Larrabee Avenue
21
Turn right onto State Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
22
Turn left onto West Fayette Street
39 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Fayette Street
23
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.4 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 17m 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.4 miles or 1h 17m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Denver, 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 128.8 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.4 miles from Ankeny, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.14 one way
$40.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.11 | $44.22 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.79 | $49.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.44 | $56.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.6 | 0 | $13.52 | $6.18 |
| Efficient EV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.27 | $5.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.5 | 0 | $18.03 | $8.24 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
Denver, IA
Afternoon in Denver on Saturday
Local time
12:30 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
2h 35m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
128.8 mi in 2h 35m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Southwest Walnut Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 Denver, IA is easy. At 2h 35m 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 Denver, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 35m. Total distance: 128.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ankeny, IA to Denver, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Denver, IA before heading back.
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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