How far is Ankeny, IA from Waukee, IA?

The driving distance from Ankeny, IA to Waukee, IA is about 23.1 miles (37.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 16.6 miles (26.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 04m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
23.09 mi
00h 32m
Flight
16.57 mi
26.67 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ankeny.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
16.57 mi
Kilometers
26.67 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
23.09 mi
Kilometers
37.16 km
Drive Time
00h 32m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waukee
Mon, May 4, 9:19 PM CDT
Return by in Ankeny
Mon, May 4, 9:51 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ankeny
2026-05-04T20:46
Arrive Waukee
Mon, May 4, 9:19 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:32 AM to 7:32 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:26 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Ankeny
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Johnston
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Ankeny
11.3 mi
00h 16m
To Waukee
11.8 mi
00h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Monday

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph SW
Destination
78°F
Monday

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ankeny and Waukee.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny and Waukee.

  1. 1

    Start on Southwest 3rd Street

    15 m · 7 sec · Southwest 3rd Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street

    1897 ft · 1 min · Southwest Walnut Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Southwest Ordnance Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · Southwest Ordnance Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Southwest State Street

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Southwest State Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Northwest 2nd Street

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Northwest 2nd Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right

    2024 ft · 49 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    9.7 mi · 11 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6: Hickman Road, Adel

    1898 ft · 49 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Hickman Road

    5.6 mi · 9 min · Hickman Road

  10. 10

    Turn left onto 6th Street

    1119 ft · 34 sec · 6th Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Ashworth Drive

    43 m · 5 sec · Ashworth Drive

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Ashworth Drive

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ankeny and Waukee.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
12 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
51.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Northwest 2nd Street
12.7 mi · 55%
Hickman Road
5.56 mi · 24%
Southwest State Street
2.52 mi · 11%
Southwest Ordnance Road
0.87 mi · 4%
US 6
0.36 mi · 2%
Southwest Walnut Street
0.36 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Northwest 2nd Street

Merge slight left

9.71 mi · 00h 11m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 32m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.5 mi
16.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Johnston
00h 16m from Ankeny
Leave By
7:26 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Ankeny and Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Waukee.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ankeny to Waukee?

The road trip is about 23.1 miles (37.2 km) and usually takes 00h 32m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Johnston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.3 miles from Ankeny and 11.8 miles from Waukee.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 16.6 miles (26.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:26 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.05 one way or $6.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Ankeny and Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Waukee.

Stop Ideas Near Johnston

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Johnston, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Johnston.

RAIL

Osceola

71 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

88 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ankeny and Waukee. Straight-line distance: 16.57 mi (26.67 km).

Ankeny

#1 Ankeny

The most populous city in Polk County, Iowa.

Population70,068
Coordinates41.7297100, -93.6057700
Altitude302
CountryUnited States
Waukee

#2 Waukee

City in Dallas County, Iowa, United States of America

Population26,166
Coordinates41.6116600, -93.8852300
Altitude314
CountryUnited States
Start: Southwest 3rd Street (-93.60577, 41.72962)
End: Ashworth Drive (-93.885151, 41.611761)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 37 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.81 gal
3.08 L · about $3.05
Round trip
$6.11
1.62 gal · 6.16 L
Estimated CO2
7.2 kg one way
Round trip: 14.4 kg / 32 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $3.05 $6.11
Mid-grade $4.25 $3.44 $6.89
Premium $4.65 $3.77 $7.54
Diesel $5.30 $4.30 $8.59

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Iowa · May 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Ankeny and Waukee. The current time is 20:46:53.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.