Origin
West Burlington, IA
Afternoon in West Burlington on Saturday
Local time
1:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Burlington, 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
3h 25m
Distance
171.4 mi
276 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 13m
★
6 AM
3h 25m
8 AM
3h 50m
10 AM
3h 34m
12 PM
3h 32m
3 PM
3h 35m
5 PM
3h 49m
8 PM
3h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ankeny, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from West Burlington, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 171.4 miles and takes about 3h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 34, US 63, I 35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 83.9 miles on US 34. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.80 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
85.7 miles from West Burlington, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 34 | 83.9 mi | 1h 37m |
| US 63 | 69.4 mi | 1h 20m |
| I 35 | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| West Mount Pleasant Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| East 1st Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| I 80 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 34
— 83.9 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Burlington, IA and Ankeny, IA.
1
Start on East Wheeler Street
22 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Wheeler Street
2
Turn right onto Broadway Street
365 ft
·
19 sec
·
Broadway Street
3
Turn left onto West Mount Pleasant Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
West Mount Pleasant Street
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
5
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
22 mi
·
25 min
·
US 34; IA 163
6
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 34; IA 163
Toward US 218, IA 27 North: Iowa City, Fairfield
7
Merge onto US 34; US 218; IA 27; IA 163
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163
61 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
US 34; IA 163
Exit 45
9
Continue on US 63; IA 163
69 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
US 63; IA 163
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
11
Merge onto US 65
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
13
Merge onto I 80
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
16
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 North: Minneapolis
17
Merge onto I 35
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
I 35
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward 1st Street
19
Keep slight left at fork
256 ft
·
8 sec
Toward High Trestle Trail
Use the left lane.
20
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
21
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest Walnut Street
22
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
23
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 85.7 miles from West Burlington, IA, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.9 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 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.7 miles or 1h 42m 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 45m
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 West Burlington, 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 West Burlington, IA
This is one driving day of about 171.4 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from West Burlington, 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 34 for about 83.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.7 miles from West Burlington, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 34 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 169.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Broadway Street
Turn right onto Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
5
23.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
US 34; IA 163
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163 toward US 218, IA 27 North: Iowa City, Fairfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218, IA 27 North: Iowa City, Fairfiel...
7
163.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 12m 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
164.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 14m 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
169.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 20m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.80 one way
$53.59 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.42 | $58.84 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.98 | $65.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.84 | $75.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.4 | 0 | $18.00 | $8.23 |
| Efficient EV | 42.9 | 0 | $15.00 | $6.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.6 | 0 | $24.00 | $10.97 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Afternoon in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
1:30 PM
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
3 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
3h 25m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
171.4 mi in 3h 25m, mostly highway — 83.9 mi of that is on US 34.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.9 mi on US 34.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 34 and US 63. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Broadway Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 17 significant decision points across 171.4 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: near the start (Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.9 miles (US 34; IA 163): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 163.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 West Burlington, IA to Ankeny, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Fairfield along the way.
Fairfield
23.9 mi in
|
~29m
|
via US 34; IA 163
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 171.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.9 miles on US 34. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Ankeny, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.9 miles (US 34; IA 163): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 163.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Ankeny, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
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