Origin
Leon, IA
Evening in Leon on Thursday
Local time
7:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Leon, IA to Ankeny, IA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
80 mi
129 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leon, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Leon, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 80 miles and takes about 1h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, Northwest Church Street, Northwest 2nd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.7 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.51 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
40 miles from Leon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 80 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 36m highway drive covering 80 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and Northwest Church Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 61.7 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 12 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 61.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Northwest Church Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 9.4 miles in near 120th Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Leon, IA to Ankeny, IA is easy. At 1h 36m with 77% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.4 miles (120th Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
9.4 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
120th Street
Turn left onto 120th Street
Navigation decision point
5
11.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the ramp toward Webb
Navigation decision point
Toward Webb
5
11.4 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
73.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward IA 415: Polk City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 135
Toward IA 415: Polk City
4
78.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
Southwest Ordnance Road
Turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road
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 Leon, IA to Ankeny, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Webb along the way.
Webb
11.1 mi in
|
~16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 61.7 mi | 1h 7m |
| Northwest Church Street | 9.4 mi | 13m |
| Northwest 2nd Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Southwest State Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| 120th Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Ordnance Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Line Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 61.7 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leon, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on US 69
9.4 mi
·
13 min
·
Northwest Church Street
2
Turn left onto 120th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
120th Street
3
Continue on CR J14
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Line Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Webb
5
Merge onto I 35
62 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 135
Toward IA 415: Polk City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto IA 415
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
8
Continue on IA 415
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Southwest State Street
9
Turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Ordnance Road
10
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Walnut Street
11
Turn right onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
12
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 40 miles from Leon, IA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.7 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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40 miles or 48m 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 18m
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 Leon, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Leon, IA
This is one driving day of about 80 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Leon, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 61.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40 mi from Leon, IA · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 40 miles from Leon, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.7 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.51 one way
$25.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.73 | $27.46 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.40 | $30.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.66 | $35.33 |
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: 28 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24 | 0 | $8.40 | $3.84 |
| Efficient EV | 20 | 0 | $7.00 | $3.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32 | 0 | $11.20 | $5.12 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Evening in Ankeny on Thursday
Local time
7:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Norwalk, IA
40 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
19 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 36m 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 Leon, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 80 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, Northwest Church Street, Northwest 2nd 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 40 miles from Leon, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.51 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 Leon, IA to Ankeny, IA is easy. At 1h 36m with 77% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.4 miles (120th Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Leon, IA to Ankeny, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Webb along the way.
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