How far is Marshalltown, IA from Ankeny, IA?

The driving distance from Marshalltown, IA to Ankeny, IA is about 45.7 miles (73.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 42.1 miles (67.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 42m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
45.7 mi
00h 51m
Flight
42.14 mi
67.82 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Marshalltown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
42.14 mi
Kilometers
67.82 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
45.7 mi
Kilometers
73.55 km
Drive Time
00h 51m

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 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ankeny
Sun, Apr 19, 5:58 AM CDT
Return by in Marshalltown
Sun, Apr 19, 6:49 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Marshalltown
2026-04-19T05:07
Arrive Ankeny
Sun, Apr 19, 5:58 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:51 AM to 10:51 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:48 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Marshalltown
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Collins
IA

City in Story County, Iowa, United States

From Marshalltown
22.9 mi
00h 25m
To Ankeny
22.9 mi
00h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
54°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 13 mph NW
Destination
57°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North 3rd Avenue

    31 m · 6 sec · North 3rd Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    2675 ft · 59 sec · East Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South 3rd Street

    2231 ft · 46 sec · South 3rd Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Madison Street

    1644 ft · 33 sec · West Madison Street

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto West Lincolnway

    2.2 mi · 4 min · West Lincolnway

  6. 6

    Continue on Marshalltown Boulevard

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Marshalltown Boulevard

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    29.7 mi · 35 min

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Northeast 94th Avenue

    8.5 mi · 13 min · Northeast 94th Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on East 1st Street

    1.8 mi · 4 min · East 1st Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street

    829 ft · 41 sec · Southwest Walnut Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street

    15 m · 2 sec · Southwest 3rd Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Southwest 3rd Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
12 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
26.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Marshalltown Boulevard
31.8 mi · 70%
Northeast 94th Avenue
8.45 mi · 18%
West Lincolnway
2.23 mi · 5%
East 1st Street
1.84 mi · 4%
East Main Street
0.51 mi · 1%
South 3rd Street
0.42 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Marshalltown Boulevard

Continue straight

29.7 mi · 00h 35m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.6 mi
42.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Collins
00h 25m from Marshalltown
Leave By
4:48 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Marshalltown and Sunny near Ankeny.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 45.7 miles (73.5 km) and usually takes 00h 51m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Collins is a useful midpoint, sitting about 22.9 miles from Marshalltown and 22.9 miles from Ankeny.

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

The direct path is about 42.1 miles (67.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:48 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.07 one way or $12.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Marshalltown and Sunny near Ankeny.

Stop Ideas Near Collins

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Collins, 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 Collins.

RAIL

Osceola

104 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Marshalltown and Ankeny. Straight-line distance: 42.14 mi (67.82 km).

Marshalltown

#1 Marshalltown

City in Marshal County, Iowa

Population26,736
Coordinates42.0494300, -92.9079800
Altitude287
CountryUnited States
Ankeny

#2 Ankeny

The most populous city in Polk County, Iowa.

Population70,068
Coordinates41.7297100, -93.6057700
Altitude302
CountryUnited States
Start: North 3rd Avenue (-92.908043, 42.04943)
End: Southwest 3rd Street (-93.60577, 41.72962)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 74 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.61 gal
6.1 L · about $6.07
Round trip
$12.14
3.22 gal · 12.2 L
Estimated CO2
14.3 kg one way
Round trip: 28.6 kg / 63 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.07 $12.14
Mid-grade $4.25 $6.85 $13.69
Premium $4.65 $7.49 $14.99
Diesel $5.30 $8.54 $17.08

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 · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Marshalltown and Ankeny. The current time is 05:07:23.

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.