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Ankeny Iowa Map

Explore Ankeny, Iowa, with this interactive street and satellite map.

This page also offers TOPO MAPS — the official USGS topographic sheets — plus USGS aerial imagery, a labelled USNG grid overlay, a distance and bearing tool, and a GPS grid-reference readout. See How to Use This Map below.

Interactive Map of Ankeny, Iowa

How to Use This Ankeny, Iowa Map

This interactive map shows the street layout and satellite imagery for Ankeny, Iowa. Use the Map and Satellite buttons above to switch between street map and aerial imagery views. Use the + and − buttons to zoom in or out, or scroll your mouse wheel while holding the Control key to zoom. On a touchscreen, use a two-finger pinch gesture. Drag the map to pan to any area of Iowa or beyond.

Click ⛶ Fullscreen to expand the map to fill your screen. To return to the normal page view, press the Escape key, click the ✕ Exit Fullscreen button that appears above the map, or on a mobile device tap the back button (Android) or the close icon (iOS).

TOPO MAPS — NEW. Click the green 🔍 Search Maps button below the map to open a second map with a Base map row offering three choices. OSM is the standard OpenStreetMap street map. Topo shows the official USGS topographic maps from The National Map — contours, hydrography, land cover and shaded relief, the same mapping used for hiking, hunting and back-country navigation in the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Finger Lakes. Imagery shows USGS aerial photography, mostly 1-metre NAIP. The search box finds any US town, county or landmark by name, so you are not limited to Ankeny.

Reading the map like a paper quad. Click Grid to overlay the U.S. National Grid (USNG), labelled along the edges exactly as a printed topographic sheet is — at normal zoom the squares are one kilometre across, so you can read a six-figure grid reference by eye and judge distance directly off the map. Click Measure, then tap two points, to get the distance between them together with the grid bearing in degrees and mils, the true bearing, and the magnetic bearing to set on a compass.

Click 📍 My position to take a single GPS reading from your device. It marks where you are and reports your position as a USNG grid reference as well as plain latitude and longitude — USNG being the format FEMA and US search and rescue teams work from — with a Copy position button so you can paste it straight into a text message. It takes one reading and stops, rather than tracking continuously, to conserve your battery. Note that map tiles need cell coverage, but a GPS reading does not — your coordinates stay correct even where the map itself cannot load.

City	Ankeny
State	Iowa (IA)
County	Polk County
Country	United States of America
Timezone	Central Time (America/Chicago)

Latitude	41.72971
Longitude	-93.605773
Population	67,887
Density	866.3 /km²
Incorporated	Yes
ZIP Codes	50023, 50021
Area Code	515
County Seat	Des Moines
School District	Ankeny Community School District

🌦 Goto Ankeny Weather Page: Ankeny, Iowa — Weather Warnings, Forecast, Radar, Satellite & Current Conditions

About Ankeny, Iowa

Ankeny is a locality in Polk County, Iowa, United States. It has a population of 67,887. The population density is 866.3 people per km². Ankeny is located at 41.7297°N, 93.6058°W. It observes the Central Time (America/Chicago) timezone. Ankeny is an incorporated locality. ZIP codes: 50023, 50021.

Ankeny occupies a vast expanse of the Iowa prairie where the horizon stretches flat and wide under an immense, pale sky. It lies 6.2 miles northeast of Johnston, IA (from Johnston, IA: bearing 50°T), and is situated 8.9 miles north of Des Moines. The physical character of the land is defined by the steady, rhythmic geometry of tilled fields, where the soil holds a dark, fertile promise that has shaped the regional identity for generations. To the west, the subtle rise of the landscape hints at the distant presence of the Buffalo Ridge, which breaks the monotony of the plain when the light catches the elevation just so at dusk. Within the immediate vicinity, the quiet flow of Saylor Creek provides a thin, winding ribbon of natural drainage, while the still waters of Faith Pond offer a reflective mirror to the passing clouds. The atmosphere here carries the crisp, clean scent of turning earth, particularly when the wind shifts across the open acreage that surrounds the built environment.

Ankeny emerged from the industrious spirit of the late nineteenth century, rooted in the expansion of coal mining that drew laborers to the region to tap into the subterranean wealth of the earth. The settlement grew with the arrival of the railroad, which transformed the isolated plots of farmland into a vital node for commerce and travel. Over the decades, the character of the site shifted from a collection of mining shacks and agricultural outposts into a stable, enduring center of human activity. This historical transition reflects the broader patterns of the upper Midwest, where the initial extraction of resources eventually gave way to the steady, predictable development of residential streets and civic institutions that define the modern street grid.

Ankeny now serves as a robust center for professional and educational pursuits, bolstered by a modern infrastructure that supports a diverse range of local industries. The economic life of the area is anchored by a blend of manufacturing, retail, and corporate operations, all of which benefit from a central position that facilitates the movement of goods and people. Higher education finds a place here through the presence of specialized training programs and campuses that provide a steady stream of skilled workers to the labor force. The Ankeny Market Pavillion functions as a focal point for this daily commerce, drawing inhabitants together in a shared space that organizes the social and financial rhythms of the week. The infrastructure remains lean and functional, reflecting a priority on efficiency and the quiet maintenance of a growing population.

Cultural life in Ankeny unfolds with a measured, literate civility that favors community gatherings and seasonal celebrations over the frantic pace of larger metropolises. While the local residents often look toward the nearby professional sports teams and college athletic programs that define Iowa’s competitive spirit, the town maintains its own distinct schedule of annual events and festivals that celebrate the cycle of the seasons. There is an understated pride in the public spaces and the preservation of local history, which is visible in the carefully kept parks and the architecture of the older residential blocks. The influence of Scandinavian and German heritage remains woven into the social fabric, manifesting in a modest, hardworking culture that values the quiet dignity of a life spent close to the land, even as the modern world encroaches upon the periphery of the prairie.

Nearby Outdoor Places

High Trestle Trail (State Recreation Area) — 0.1 mi, 290° W
Wagner (Local Park) — 0.2 mi, 000° N
Ankeny Veteran's Memorial (Monument) — 0.2 mi, 007° N
Eric Jacobs Memorial (Monument) — 0.9 mi, 326° NW
Greentree (Local Park) — 1.3 mi, 312° NW
Wooden carved bear (Public Artwork) — 1.6 mi, 190° S
Shelly Dunham Memorial (Monument) — 1.8 mi, 079° E
Saylorville Recreation Area (Recreation Area) — 2.9 mi, 255° W
Saylorville Lake (Recreation Area) — 3.3 mi, 251° W
Margo Frankel Woods State Park (State Park) — 3.4 mi, 188° S
Kids Create (Arts Centre) — 6.2 mi, 297° NW
Big Creek Historical Museum (Museum) — 6.3 mi, 297° NW
Shakin' Bacon (Attraction) — 7.5 mi, 135° SE
Junior Jockeys (Attraction) — 7.6 mi, 135° SE
Big Creek State Park (State Park) — 7.6 mi, 304° NW
American Puppet Theater (Theatre) — 7.6 mi, 135° SE
Speedway Racers (Attraction) — 7.6 mi, 134° SE
Giant Sky Wheel (Attraction) — 7.6 mi, 134° SE
Sheriff Sam's Saloon Show (Theatre) — 7.6 mi, 135° SE
Flix Brewhouse (Cinema) — 8.4 mi, 216° SW
Halls of Law and Flame (Museum) — 9.6 mi, 164° S
Iowa Hall of Pride (Museum) — 9.6 mi, 185° S
Liz Lidgett Gallery & Design (Gallery) — 9.7 mi, 183° S
County School (Museum) — 9.7 mi, 162° S
Richard L. Easter Museum Complex (Museum) — 9.7 mi, 162° S
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge (National Wildlife Refuge) — 17.6 mi, 119° SE · 12k acres
Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge (National Wildlife Refuge) — 22.0 mi, 126° SE · 12k acres

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