Origin
Fairfax, IA
Morning in Fairfax on Saturday
Local time
6:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfax, IA to Ankeny, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 13m
Distance
107.1 mi
172 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 5m
★
6 AM
2h 14m
8 AM
2h 33m
10 AM
2h 20m
12 PM
2h 19m
3 PM
2h 21m
5 PM
2h 32m
8 PM
2h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfax, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Fairfax, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 107.1 miles and takes about 2h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 30, Marshalltown Boulevard, Northeast 94th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.5 miles on US 30. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.74 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
53.5 miles from Fairfax, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 107.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
The drive from Fairfax, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 107.1 miles and takes about 2h 13m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
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.
US 30 is the longest continuous segment at about 64.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Church Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 13m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 151 / Williams Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Church Street
Turn right onto Church Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 151 / Williams Boulevard
Turn right onto US 151 / Williams Boulevard
Navigation decision point
7
3.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 30 West, US 218 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North
5
68.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
5
107.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
|
Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fairfax, IA to Ankeny, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Des Moines along the way.
Des Moines
68.1 mi in
|
~1h 22m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 30 | 64.5 mi | 1h 14m |
| Marshalltown Boulevard | 28.2 mi | 32m |
| Northeast 94th Avenue | 8.5 mi | 13m |
| 80th Street Southwest | 2 mi | 4m |
| East 1st Street | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Williams Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Church Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 30
— 64.5 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfax, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on Vanderbilt Street
443 ft
·
21 sec
·
Vanderbilt Street
2
Turn right onto Church Street
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Church Street
3
Turn right onto US 151
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Williams Boulevard
4
Turn left onto 80th Street Southwest
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
80th Street Southwest
5
Take the ramp
226 ft
·
5 sec
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North
7
Merge onto US 30; US 218
64 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
US 30; US 218
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
9
Turn left onto IA 330
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Marshalltown Boulevard
10
Turn right onto Northeast 94th Avenue
8.5 mi
·
13 min
·
Northeast 94th Avenue
11
Continue on East 1st Street
1.8 mi
·
4 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
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 53.5 miles from Fairfax, IA, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.5 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 24 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.5 miles or 1h 5m 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 45m
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 Fairfax, 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 Fairfax, IA
This is one driving day of about 107.1 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Fairfax, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 30 for about 64.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.5 mi from Fairfax, IA · 1h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 53.5 miles from Fairfax, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 30 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.5 miles.
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
$16.74 one way
$33.49 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.38 | $36.77 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.61 | $41.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.65 | $47.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.25 | $5.14 |
| Efficient EV | 26.8 | 0 | $9.37 | $4.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.8 | 0 | $14.99 | $6.85 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (65% 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
Morning in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
6:40 AM
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
21 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
2h 13m 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 Fairfax, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 107.1 miles and takes about 2h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 30, Marshalltown Boulevard, Northeast 94th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 53.5 miles from Fairfax, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.74 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 2h 13m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 151 / Williams Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Fairfax, IA to Ankeny, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Des Moines along the way.
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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