Origin
Urbandale, IA
Afternoon in Urbandale on Sunday
Local time
3:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Urbandale, IA to Ankeny, IA
Drive Time
22m
Distance
13 mi
21 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Urbandale, IA
ZaetaFlow Sec
Ankeny, IA
András Nyemczovszky
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Urbandale and Ankeny, this 13-mile trip is a straightforward local commute. Expect to spend about 22 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate a combination of I-80, Northwest 2nd Street, and Southwest State Street to complete the journey. With a fuel budget of just $2, this is an incredibly economical route to navigate within the Midwest. Because it is such a short distance, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule without worrying about complex logistics.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
6.5 miles from Urbandale, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 13-mile route is best described as a turn-heavy local drive that balances short highway bursts with urban navigation. You will spend roughly 26% of your time on the highway, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being 3.3 miles on I-80. Do not expect a monotonous interstate grind; instead, be prepared for frequent transitions between major thoroughfares and local streets. The personality of this drive is functional and direct, requiring you to stay alert for turns as you shift between Northwest 2nd Street and Southwest State Street. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 3.3 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
994 ft
812 ft
Total Climb
250 ft
Total Descent
199 ft
Highest Point
994 ft
~12.4 mi in
Elevation Range
182 ft
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 70th Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 22m drive. You will face about 9 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 (70th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (Meredith Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (IA 28 / Merle Hay Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
70th Street
Turn right onto 70th Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Meredith Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Meredith Drive
Navigation decision point
4
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
IA 28 / Merle Hay Road
Turn left onto IA 28 / Merle Hay Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I-35 north, I-80 east
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east
7
6.1 mi into trip
|
~9m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Northwest 2nd Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Southwest State Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| 70th Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Southwest Ordnance Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Meredith Drive | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Merle Hay Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Walnut Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 3.3 mi, about 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Urbandale, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on Maryland Drive
13 ft
·
2 sec
·
Maryland Drive
2
Turn right onto 70th Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
70th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Meredith Drive
4
Turn left onto IA 28
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Merle Hay Road
Use the none lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east
6
Merge onto I 80; I 35
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 80; I 35
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 135
Toward IA 415: Polk City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto IA 415
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
9
Continue on IA 415
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Southwest State Street
10
Turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Ordnance Road
11
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Walnut Street
12
Turn right onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
13
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Since the entire trip takes less than half an hour, you do not need to worry about planning for rest stops or food breaks along the way. Your biggest advantage here is flexibility, so feel free to head out whenever it best suits your plans. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, double-check your navigation before leaving to ensure you are comfortable with the transitions between I-80 and the local streets. Keep your $2 fuel estimate in mind, though you likely won't need to refuel mid-trip. Above all, stay focused on the changing road conditions as you move through these busy local segments.
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 6.5 miles from Urbandale, IA, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 3.3 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 13 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.5 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 17m
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 Urbandale, 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 Urbandale, IA
This is one driving day of about 13 miles and 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Urbandale, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 3.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.5 mi from Urbandale, IA · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6.5 miles from Urbandale, 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
$1.97 one way
$3.95 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.18 | $4.35 |
| premium | $4.80 | $2.45 | $4.91 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.89 | $5.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.37 | $0.62 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.14 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.82 | $0.83 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Afternoon in Ankeny on Sunday
Local time
3:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
44°F
Altoona, IA
7 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
1 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
22m 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 Urbandale, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 13 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Northwest 2nd Street, Southwest State Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.5 miles from Urbandale, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.97 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 22m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (70th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (Meredith Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (IA 28 / Merle Hay Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Urbandale, IA to Ankeny, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 812 ft to 994 ft elevation with about 250 ft of total climbing.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Ankeny, IA
More trips to Ankeny, IA
Explore more options from Urbandale, IA or browse trips ending in Ankeny, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Urbandale, IA or Ankeny, IA on MapSof.net.