Origin
Pleasantville, IA
Morning in Pleasantville on Saturday
Local time
9:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pleasantville, 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
48m
Distance
37.6 mi
61 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pleasantville, IA
Tom Fisk
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Pleasantville, IA to Ankeny, IA is 37.6 miles and takes about 48m via State Highway 5 and I 35, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip through the Midwest, specifically within Iowa, making it a convenient option for local travel or a short extension to a larger journey. The route offers a mixed driving experience, so you won't be stuck on one type of road for the entire duration. Given its short length, it's ideal for a same-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 37.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is a mixed drive, with 57% of it being on highways. You'll experience stretches on State Highway 5, which is also known as the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway, and a portion on I 35. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 16 miles on State Highway 5. Expect a blend of faster-paced highway driving and potentially more local road conditions as you make your way north.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 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 16 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 37.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 29.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
27.4 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
29.5 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
30.9 mi into trip
|
~37m 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
35.9 mi into trip
|
~43m 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
5
37.6 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 5 | 16 mi | 18m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| I 35 | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| East 1st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| I 80 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Jasper Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| County Highway G40 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 5
— 16 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pleasantville, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on South Washington Street
94 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Washington Street
2
Turn right onto CR G40
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
East Jasper Street
3
Continue on CR G40
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
County Highway G40
4
Turn right onto IA 5
16 mi
·
18 min
·
State Highway 5
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
6
Merge onto US 65
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
7
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
8
Merge onto I 80
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
11
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 North: Minneapolis
12
Merge onto I 35
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
I 35
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward 1st Street
14
Keep slight left at fork
256 ft
·
8 sec
Toward High Trestle Trail
Use the left lane.
15
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
16
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
17
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
18
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.8 mi from Pleasantville, IA · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.8 miles from Pleasantville, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ankeny, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Ankeny, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.88 one way
$11.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.45 | $12.91 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.24 | $14.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.30 | $16.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.29 | $1.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15 | 0 | $5.26 | $2.41 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
9:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Altoona, IA
19 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
18 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
48m 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 Pleasantville, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 37.6 miles and takes about 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 5, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway, I 35. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.8 miles from Pleasantville, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.88 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 short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 37.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 29.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Pleasantville, IA to Ankeny, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Ankeny, IA
More from Pleasantville, IA
More trips to Ankeny, IA
Explore more options from Pleasantville, IA or browse trips ending in Ankeny, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.