Trip from Ankeny, IA to Ottumwa, IA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 56m

Distance

96.1 mi

155 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

1h 48m ★

6 AM

1h 57m

8 AM

2h 14m

10 AM

2h 3m

12 PM

2h 1m

3 PM

2h 3m

5 PM

2h 13m

8 PM

1h 52m

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

Ottumwa, IA

Quang Nguyen Vinh

Trip Overview

The drive from Ankeny, IA to Ottumwa, IA covers 96.1 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 East University Avenue, I 35, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.9 miles on East University Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.02 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

48 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 1h 56m. Total distance: 96.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 56m drive with frequent turns across 96.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

East University Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 73.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.1 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

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 6.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Southwest Walnut Street

Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street

Navigation decision point

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | West 1st Street

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

Navigation decision point

6.6 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 35

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...

10.2 mi into trip | ~15m in

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

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 141 Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines

14.7 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward IA 163: East University Avenue, Pleasant Hill

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 79 Toward IA 163: East University Avenue, Pleasant...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Ankeny, IA and Ottumwa, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines and Pleasant Hill.

Council Bluffs

6.6 mi in | ~9m | via I 35

Davenport

6.6 mi in | ~9m | via I 35

Des Moines

10.2 mi in | ~15m

Pleasant Hill

14.7 mi in | ~20m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
East University Avenue	73.9 mi	1h 25m
I 35	4.8 mi	5m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway	3.8 mi	4m
Old US Highway 63	2.6 mi	3m
I 80	2.6 mi	2m
South Wapello Street	2.2 mi	2m
Northeast University Avenue	1.8 mi	2m
West 1st Street	1.4 mi	3m

Longest stretch: East University Avenue — 73.9 mi, about 1h 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Ottumwa, IA.

Start on Southwest 3rd Street

48 ft · 4 sec · Southwest 3rd Street

Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Southwest Walnut Street

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

1.4 mi · 3 min · West 1st Street

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 30 sec

Toward I-35 south: Des Moines

Merge onto I 35

4.7 mi · 5 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35

0.2 mi · 12 sec · I 35

Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 2 min

Exit 137A Toward I 80 East: Davenport

Merge onto I 80

2.6 mi · 2 min · I 80

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 141 Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto US 65

3.8 mi · 4 min · Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec

Exit 79 Toward IA 163: East University Avenue, Pleasant Hill

Turn left onto IA 163

3.3 mi · 4 min · East University Avenue

Continue on IA 163

1.8 mi · 2 min · Northeast University Avenue

Continue on IA 163

71 mi · 1 hr 21 min · East University Avenue

Take the exit onto US 63 Business

0.4 mi · 47 sec · US 63 Business

Turn right onto US 63 Business; IA 149

2.6 mi · 3 min · Old US Highway 63

Continue on US 63 Business; IA 149

2.2 mi · 2 min · South Wapello Street

Turn left onto West Fourth Street

0.2 mi · 27 sec · West Fourth Street

Arrive at destination

West Fourth 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.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 48 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.9 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 21 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 48 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 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ottumwa, 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 96.1 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.

The longest stretch is on East University Avenue for about 73.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 48 mi from Ankeny, IA · 1h into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Monroe, IA

48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pella, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48 miles from Ankeny, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before East University Avenue if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.9 miles.

Arriving in Ottumwa, IA

The final approach into Ottumwa, 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

$15.02 one way

$30.05 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$16.50	$32.99
premium	$4.89	$18.49	$36.99
diesel	$5.61	$21.22	$42.44

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

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	28.8	$10.09	$4.61
Efficient EV	24	$8.41	$3.84
EV Truck/SUV	38.4	$13.45	$6.15

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Ankeny, IA

Afternoon in Ankeny on Thursday

Local time

1:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ottumwa, IA

Afternoon in Ottumwa on Thursday

Local time

1:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

51°F

Monroe, IA

48 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

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 Ottumwa, IA covers 96.1 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 East University Avenue, I 35, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 48 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 $15.02 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.