Origin
Mount Pleasant, IA
Morning in Mount Pleasant on Saturday
Local time
8:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mount Pleasant, 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 51m
Distance
142.9 mi
230 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 41m
★
6 AM
2h 52m
8 AM
3h 14m
10 AM
3h 0m
12 PM
2h 58m
3 PM
3h 1m
5 PM
3h 13m
8 PM
2h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mount Pleasant, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mount Pleasant, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 142.9 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Washington Street, 235th Street, US 34 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.34 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
71.5 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 142.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 51m drive with frequent turns across 142.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Washington Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
993 ft
717 ft
Total Climb
347 ft
Total Descent
119 ft
Highest Point
993 ft
~142.9 mi in
Elevation Range
276 ft
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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Mount Pleasant, IA to Ankeny, IA is easy. At 2h 51m 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 Mount Pleasant, IA to Ankeny, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Washington Street | — | — |
| 235th Street | — | — |
| US 34 | — | — |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | — | — |
| I 80 West | — | — |
| I-35 north | — | — |
| I-35 North | — | — |
| I 35 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Washington Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Pleasant, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on South White Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
South White Street
2
Turn left onto West Washington Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Washington Street
3
Continue on 235th Street
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
235th Street
4
Take the ramp straight toward US 34, IA 163 West: Fairfield, Ottumwa
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 34, IA 163 West: Fairfield, Ottumwa
5
Merge slight left
55 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
6
Continue straight
69 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
7
Take the exit right
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
8
Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
9
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 West: Council Bluffs
10
Merge slight left
0.9 mi
·
1 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I-35 north: Minneapolis
12
Continue on I-35 north: Minneapolis
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I-35 north: Minneapolis
13
Continue on I-35 North: Minneapolis
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
I-35 North: Minneapolis
14
Merge slight left onto I 35 North: Minneapolis
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
I 35 North: Minneapolis
15
Take the exit slight right toward 1st Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
1st Street
16
Keep slight left to continue on High Trestle Trail
256 ft
·
8 sec
·
High Trestle Trail
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
·
41 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
19
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
49 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
20
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.5 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA, or about 1h 26m 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 31 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.5 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
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 Mount Pleasant, 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 Mount Pleasant, IA
This is one driving day of about 142.9 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71.5 mi from Mount Pleasant, IA · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 71.5 miles from Mount Pleasant, 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.
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
$22.34 one way
$44.68 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.53 | $49.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.50 | $55.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.55 | $63.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.9 | 0 | $15.00 | $6.86 |
| Efficient EV | 35.7 | 0 | $12.50 | $5.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.2 | 0 | $20.01 | $9.15 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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
8:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Cloudy
SSW 7 to 12 mph
5% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 14 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
15 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 51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Mount Pleasant, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 142.9 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Washington Street, 235th Street, US 34. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.5 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.34 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Mount Pleasant, IA to Ankeny, IA is easy. At 2h 51m 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 Mount Pleasant, IA to Ankeny, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Mount Pleasant, IA to Ankeny, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 717 ft to 993 ft elevation with about 347 ft of total climbing.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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