Origin
Manly, IA
Morning in Manly on Thursday
Local time
11:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Manly, IA to Ankeny, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 16m
Distance
120.6 mi
194 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 7m
★
6 AM
2h 17m
8 AM
2h 36m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 35m
8 PM
2h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manly, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Manly, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 120.6 miles and takes about 2h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, State Highway 9, East 1st Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 110.5 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.85 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
60.3 miles from Manly, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 120.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 16m drive with frequent turns across 120.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 110.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Broadway 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 16m drive. You will face about 8 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 (North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.3 miles (I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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
|
North Broadway Street
Turn right onto North Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
5
8.3 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
118.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
119 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
120.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
|
Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 110.5 mi | 1h 58m |
| State Highway 9 | 7.1 mi | 9m |
| East 1st Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| East South Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Broadway Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Southwest 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 110.5 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manly, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on this road
264 ft
·
21 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto North Broadway Street
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
North Broadway Street
3
Turn right onto IA 9
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East South Street
4
Continue on IA 9
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 9
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
6
Merge onto I 35; IA 27
110 mi
·
1 hr 58 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
8
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft
·
9 sec
9
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
10
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
11
Turn left 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 60.3 miles from Manly, IA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.5 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 27 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.3 miles or 1h 8m 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 50m
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 Manly, 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 Manly, IA
This is one driving day of about 120.6 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Manly, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 110.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 60.3 mi from Manly, IA · 1h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.3 miles from Manly, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 110.5 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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.85 one way
$37.71 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.70 | $41.40 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.21 | $46.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.63 | $53.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.2 | 0 | $12.66 | $5.79 |
| Efficient EV | 30.2 | 0 | $10.55 | $4.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.2 | 0 | $16.88 | $7.72 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Morning in Ankeny on Thursday
Local time
11:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Gilbert, IA
60 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
24 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 16m 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 Manly, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 120.6 miles and takes about 2h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, State Highway 9, East 1st Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.3 miles from Manly, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.85 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 16m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.3 miles (I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Manly, IA to Ankeny, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Ankeny, IA
More from Manly, IA
More trips to Ankeny, IA
Explore more options from Manly, IA or browse trips ending in Ankeny, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Manly, IA or Ankeny, IA on MapSof.net.