The Cost of Driving From Ankeny to West Des Moines: A Breakdown of Current Gas Prices

If you live in Ankeny, Iowa, and need to drive to West Des Moines, Iowa, you might be wondering what the cost of the trip will be based on the current gas prices. Fortunately, there are a few different routes you can take, each with its own distance, time, and cost. In this blog post, we'll break down those routes to help you decide which one is best for you.

Route One: I-35 S

The first and most direct route from Ankeny to West Des Moines is via I-35 S. This route is approximately 11.9 miles and takes about 15 minutes without traffic. The current gas price in Ankeny is around $2.14 per gallon, and assuming your vehicle gets around 25 miles per gallon, you can expect to pay around $1.61 for gas each way. There are no tolls on this route, so your total cost for this route will be around $3.22.

Route Two: I-80 W

Another popular route is via I-80 W. This route is a bit longer at approximately 17.1 miles, and will take you roughly 20 minutes without traffic. The current gas price in Ankeny is still around $2.14 per gallon, and assuming your vehicle gets around 25 miles per gallon, you can expect to pay around $2.31 for gas each way. There is also a toll on this route (the West Des Moines/Waukee/West Mix Master), which costs $2.25. This means your total cost for this route will be around $6.81.

Route Three: US-69 S

If you want to avoid the interstate altogether, you can consider taking US-69 S. This route is a bit longer at approximately 18.4 miles, and will take you roughly 25 minutes without traffic. The current gas price in Ankeny is still around $2.14 per gallon, and assuming your vehicle gets around 25 miles per gallon, you can expect to pay around $2.51 for gas each way. There are no tolls on this route, so your total cost for this route will be around $5.02.

Route Four: I-80 W and I-235 W

Finally, another option is to take I-80 W and then switch to I-235 W. This route is approximately 22.6 miles, and will take you roughly 25 minutes without traffic. The current gas price in Ankeny is still around $2.14 per gallon, and assuming your vehicle gets around 25 miles per gallon, you can expect to pay around $3.07 for gas each way. There are also two tolls on this route - the West Des Moines/Waukee/West Mix Master ($2.25) and the Iowa 28/63rd Street exit ($1.25). This means your total cost for this route will be around $8.82.

In conclusion, the cost of driving from Ankeny to West Des Moines varies depending on the route you choose. While you can expect to pay around $3.22 for the most direct route via I-35 S, you could end up paying up to $8.82 for more indirect routes that involve tolls. Ultimately, the choice is yours - do you want to save time and take a more direct route, or save money and take a longer route? No matter what you choose, be sure to factor in the current gas prices and tolls to get an accurate estimate of the cost. Safe travels!