Origin
Indiana, IA
Late night in Indiana on Friday
Local time
12:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Indiana, IA to Ankeny, IA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
58.4 mi
94 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Indiana, IA
Kelly
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 58.4-mile drive from Indiana, IA, to Ankeny, IA, is a straightforward journey perfect for a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 14 minutes. Primarily following State Highway 5, also known as the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway, about 70% of this route is on highways, offering a smooth and efficient passage through the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, this is an economical option for those looking to travel between these two Iowa locations. You'll find this drive to be a practical and uncomplicated way to get where you're going, with no overnight stays required.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 58.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 58.4-mile trip, with 70% of the drive utilizing main roads like State Highway 5. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 18.2 miles on this highway, providing a consistent pace. This route emphasizes efficiency over varied scenery, meaning you'll likely experience a more direct and less complex drive. It's a profile that prioritizes getting you from point A to point B smoothly, with minimal distractions from busy local traffic or frequent road changes.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 5 and IA 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near IA 5.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.4 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: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 48.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 50.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
IA 5
Turn sharp left onto IA 5
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
48.2 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
7
50.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
6
51.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35 toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
8
56.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward High Trestle Trail
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward High Trestle Trail
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 5 | 18.2 mi | 20m |
| IA 5 | 17 mi | 21m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| I 35 | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| County Highway G76 | 2 mi | 3m |
| East 1st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| I 80 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 5
— 18.2 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indiana, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on CR G76
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway G76
2
Continue on CR G76
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
County Highway G76
3
Turn sharp left onto IA 5
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
IA 5
4
Take the ramp onto IA 5
11 mi
·
12 min
·
IA 5
5
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
6
Continue on IA 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 5
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
8
Merge onto US 65
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
9
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
10
Merge onto I 80
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
13
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 North: Minneapolis
14
Merge onto I 35
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
I 35
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward 1st Street
16
Keep slight left at fork
256 ft
·
8 sec
Toward High Trestle Trail
Use the left lane.
17
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
18
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
19
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
20
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.2 mi from Indiana, IA · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.2 miles from Indiana, 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
$9.13 one way
$18.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.02 | $20.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.24 | $22.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.89 | $25.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.13 | $2.80 |
| Efficient EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.11 | $2.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.18 | $3.74 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Late night in Ankeny on Friday
Local time
12:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Altoona, IA
29 mi in
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
1 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
1h 14m 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 Indiana, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 58.4 miles and takes about 1h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 5, IA 5, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.2 miles from Indiana, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.13 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 48.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 50.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Indiana, IA to Ankeny, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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