Origin
Belmond, IA
Night in Belmond on Thursday
Local time
11:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Belmond, IA to Ankeny, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 43m
Distance
83.4 mi
134 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 43m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 47m
3 PM
1h 49m
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.
Belmond, IA
Uiliam Nörnberg
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Belmond, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 83.4 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, US 69, River Avenue South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.7 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.04 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
41.7 miles from Belmond, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 83.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 43m highway drive covering 83.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and US 69. The longest continuous stretch is about 53.7 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 13 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 53.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 69. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total 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 (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.5 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
|
East Main Street
Turn right onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
27.8 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
81.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
81.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
83.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
|
Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 53.7 mi | 58m |
| US 69 | 15 mi | 20m |
| River Avenue South | 8.8 mi | 12m |
| 190th Street | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| East 1st Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue Northeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 53.7 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belmond, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue Northeast
61 ft
·
4 sec
·
2nd Avenue Northeast
2
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 69
8.8 mi
·
12 min
·
River Avenue South
4
Turn left onto US 69
15 mi
·
20 min
·
US 69
5
Turn left onto CR D20
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
190th Street
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward Somerset Road
7
Merge onto I 35
54 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
9
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft
·
9 sec
10
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
11
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
12
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
13
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd 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 41.7 miles from Belmond, IA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.7 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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.7 miles or 55m 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 27m
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 Belmond, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Belmond, IA
This is one driving day of about 83.4 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Belmond, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 53.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.7 mi from Belmond, IA · 55m 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 41.7 miles from Belmond, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ankeny, IA
The final approach into Ankeny, 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
$13.04 one way
$26.08 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.32 | $28.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.05 | $32.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.41 | $36.83 |
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: 29.2 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 | 0 | $8.76 | $4.00 |
| Efficient EV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.30 | $3.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.4 | 0 | $11.68 | $5.34 |
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
Ankeny, IA
Night in Ankeny on Thursday
Local time
11:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°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 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 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 Belmond, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 83.4 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, US 69, River Avenue South. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.7 miles from Belmond, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.04 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 (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Belmond, IA to Ankeny, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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