This 97.2-mile drive from Aplington, IA to Ankeny, IA is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in under two hours. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes I-35 and US 20, making it a practical choice for getting between these two Midwest locations. Since there are no recommended stops, you have the flexibility to make this a quick transit or build your own adventure along the way. It's a simple, efficient journey through the heart of Iowa.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.6 miles from Aplington, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 97.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Expect a highway-intensive experience, with 80% of this 97.2-mile journey taking place on major roadways like I-35 and US 20. The drive features a significant uninterrupted stretch of 49.6 miles on I-35, offering a chance to maintain a steady pace. While the profile is generally highway-focused, you'll also navigate through local roads like Parrott Street, particularly as you enter and exit your destinations. This mix means you'll encounter both open-road cruising and more urban driving conditions.
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.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 45.4 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 59m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 45.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 95.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
45.4 mi into trip|~1h in
Take the exit toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
5
45.7 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
95.3 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
95.5 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
97.2 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
49.6 mi
53m
US 20
28.1 mi
32m
Parrott Street
9.2 mi
13m
County Highway S56
5.9 mi
10m
East 1st Street
1.4 mi
3m
Hardin Street
1 mi
1m
Butler Street
0.9 mi
1m
Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 49.6 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aplington, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on IA 57
9.2 mi·13 min·Parrott Street
2
Continue on IA 57
1.0 mi·1 min·Hardin Street
3
Turn slight left onto Butler Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Butler Street
4
Continue on County Highway S56
5.9 mi·10 min·County Highway S56
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
6
Merge onto US 20
28 mi·32 min·US 20
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·54 sec
Toward I 35 South: Des MoinesUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 35
50 mi·53 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 92Toward 1st Street
10
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft·9 sec
11
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi·3 min·East 1st Street
12
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
13
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·2 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
14
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 59-minute duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip. You can depart Aplington at your convenience, as there are no mandated stops to consider. The $15 fuel cost is manageable, so plan to fuel up before you leave or at a convenient point along I-35. Keep an eye on your GPS as you transition from US 20 to I-35, as this is a key junction to ensure you're on the most efficient path to Ankeny. The longest stretch on I-35 allows for a good flow, so consider leaving a bit earlier if you prefer less traffic.
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 48.6 miles from Aplington, IA, or about 1h 4m 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 21 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.6 miles or 1h 4m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ankeny, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Aplington, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Aplington, IA
This is one driving day of about 97.2 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Aplington, 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 48.6 mi from Aplington, IA
· 1h 4m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.2
0
$10.21
$4.67
Efficient EV
24.3
0
$8.50
$3.89
EV Truck/SUV
38.9
0
$13.61
$6.22
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
Aplington, IA
Afternoon
in Aplington on Friday
Local time
1:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Afternoon
in Ankeny on Friday
Local time
1:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Gilbert, 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
23 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 59m 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 Aplington, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 97.2 miles and takes about 1h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 20, Parrott Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.6 miles from Aplington, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.20 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 59m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 45.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 95.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Aplington, IA to Ankeny, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
