The drive from Tripoli, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 142.3 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, I 35, Larrabee Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.3 miles on US 20.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.25 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
71.1 miles from Tripoli, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 142.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 52m highway drive covering 142.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and I 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 54.3 miles on US 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 54.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 25.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 142.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 25.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 27.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
25.7 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the ramp toward US 218 north
Navigation decision point
Toward US 218 north
6
27.1 mi into trip|~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
5
29.3 mi into trip|~40m in
Take the exit toward University Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 183
Toward University Avenue
5
29.5 mi into trip|~40m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
90.5 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
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 Tripoli, IA to Ankeny, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Uni along the way.
Uni
27.1 mi in|~36m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
54.3 mi
1h 2m
I 35
49.6 mi
53m
Larrabee Avenue
11.3 mi
12m
Logan Avenue
6.9 mi
8m
University Avenue
5.4 mi
7m
170th Street
3.5 mi
5m
West Airline Highway
3 mi
5m
East 1st Street
1.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 54.3 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tripoli, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on IA 93
0.4 mi·37 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn right onto IA 93
0.5 mi·45 sec·7th Avenue Southwest
3
Continue on IA 93
3.5 mi·5 min·170th Street
4
Turn left onto US 63
11 mi·12 min·Larrabee Avenue
5
Continue on US 63
6.9 mi·8 min·Logan Avenue
6
Turn right onto West Airline Highway
3.0 mi·5 min·West Airline Highway
7
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·Airport Boulevard
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 218 north
9
Merge onto US 218
0.6 mi·40 sec·Leo P Rooff Expressway
10
Take the exit onto US 218
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 218
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
12
Merge onto IA 27; IA 58
1.2 mi·1 min·Avenue of the Saints
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 183Toward University Avenue
14
Keep slight right at fork
333 ft·8 sec
15
Turn straight onto University Avenue
1.8 mi·2 min·University Avenue
16
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
124 ft·2 sec·University Avenue
17
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi·4 min·University Avenue
18
Continue on Grundy Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Grundy Road
19
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
Use the right lane.
20
Merge onto US 20
54 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 20
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·54 sec
Toward I 35 South: Des MoinesUse the slight right lane.
22
Merge onto I 35
50 mi·53 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 92Toward 1st Street
24
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft·9 sec
25
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi·3 min·East 1st Street
26
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
27
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·2 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
28
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.1 miles from Tripoli, IA, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.3 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 31 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.1 miles or 1h 30m 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 Tripoli, 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 Tripoli, IA
This is one driving day of about 142.3 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Tripoli, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 54.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71.1 mi from Tripoli, IA
· 1h 30m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.7
0
$14.94
$6.83
Efficient EV
35.6
0
$12.45
$5.69
EV Truck/SUV
56.9
0
$19.92
$9.11
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Tripoli, IA
Morning
in Tripoli on Saturday
Local time
9:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Morning
in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
9:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 52m 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 Tripoli, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 142.3 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, I 35, Larrabee Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.1 miles from Tripoli, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.25 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 142.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 25.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 27.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Tripoli, IA to Ankeny, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Uni along the way.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
