Origin
Denver, IA
Afternoon in Denver on Sunday
Local time
2:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denver, IA to Ankeny, IA
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
132.1 mi
213 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 57m
★
6 AM
2h 6m
8 AM
2h 24m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 13m
5 PM
2h 23m
8 PM
2h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denver, IA
Quang Vuong
Ankeny, IA
András Nyemczovszky
Trip Overview
The drive from Denver, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 132.1 miles and takes about 2h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Street, Larrabee Avenue, Logan Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.06 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.1 miles from Denver, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 6m drive with frequent turns across 132.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Denver, IA to Ankeny, IA is easy. At 2h 6m 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 Denver, IA to Ankeny, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Larrabee Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Logan Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Airline Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Airport Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 218 north | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IA 27 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
State Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on West Fayette Street
39 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Fayette Street
2
Turn right onto State Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto Larrabee Avenue
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Larrabee Avenue
4
Continue on Logan Avenue
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Logan Avenue
5
Turn right onto West Airline Highway
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Airline Highway
6
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Airport Boulevard
7
Take the ramp right toward US 218 north
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 218 north
8
Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
9
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
10
Keep slight left to continue on IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
11
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
12
Take the exit slight right toward University Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
University Avenue
13
Keep slight right
335 ft
·
8 sec
14
Turn straight onto University Avenue
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
University Avenue
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward University Avenue
125 ft
·
3 sec
·
University Avenue
16
Exit the roundabout onto University Avenue
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
University Avenue
17
Continue on Grundy Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Grundy Road
18
Take the ramp right
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
19
Merge slight left
54 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
20
Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South: Des Moines
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
I 35 South: Des Moines
21
Merge slight left
50 mi
·
53 min
22
Take the exit slight right toward 1st Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
1st Street
23
Keep slight right
302 ft
·
9 sec
24
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
25
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
26
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
49 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
27
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 66.1 miles from Denver, IA, or about 1h 3m 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 80 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.1 miles or 1h 3m 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 Ankeny, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Denver, 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 Denver, IA
This is one driving day of about 132.1 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Denver, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.1 mi from Denver, IA · 1h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Ankeny, 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
$20.06 one way
$40.13 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $22.12 | $44.24 |
| premium | $4.80 | $24.94 | $49.88 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $29.35 | $58.70 |
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: 46.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.6 | 0 | $13.87 | $6.34 |
| Efficient EV | 33 | 0 | $11.56 | $5.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.8 | 0 | $18.49 | $8.45 |
Gas CO2
46 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
Ankeny, IA
Afternoon in Ankeny on Sunday
Local time
2:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°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
4 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 6m 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 Denver, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 132.1 miles and takes about 2h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Street, Larrabee Avenue, Logan Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.1 miles from Denver, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.06 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 Denver, IA to Ankeny, IA is easy. At 2h 6m 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 Denver, IA to Ankeny, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Denver, IA to Ankeny, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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