Commuting from Ankeny to Ames (Des Moines, Huxley: 2015, apartments, lease)

[hahahahohoho]

I am a college student graduating next month who just got a job in Ames. I've been looking for apartments in Ames and it seems all the halfway decent apartments are already leased for next school year already, so I've moved on to Ankeny. There are a lot of really nice apartments in Ankeny that are about the same price of significantly lower quality apartments in Ames and they have more lease availability right now since it's not as big a college town as Ames, so I feel pretty comfortable with my decision to live there. My main concern is the commute in the winter. I've lived in Iowa my whole life so I've got somewhat of a feel for winter driving, but I was just curious what this commute is like in the winter.

[Meemur]

Congratulations on your new job!

Unfortunately, winter or summer, that drive does get old fast! On the other hand, Ankeny is closer to Des Moines and all of the cool things that happen on weekends.

You live here, so you know that some winters are more icy than others, and that Ames tends to get the harsher weather since it's farther north. It can be snowing in Ames and at the same time be raining in Ankeny.

Also, you know that I-35 gets closed on occasion, so it's always good to have enough money on hand for a hotel room. Trust me: if I-35 is closed, Route 69 will be just about impassable. I learned this the hard way and won't elaborate, except to say that I'm from Michigan originally with many years of winter driving experience, which doesn't matter when the conditions are really bad. Not driving then is the best call, period.

Now, the 2015-16 winter has been mostly fine. I don't recall I-35 getting closed around Ames at all, and in the Ankeny area, there have only been two days (maybe three) where I felt driving was difficult but doable if necessary. I never called off work, but I did leave 30 minutes early one morning. I live in N. Des Moines, work in Ankeny, and drive to Ames several times a month.

Hope that helps! And by the way, I listen a lot of audio books when I'm on the road. It passes the time and doesn't annoy me as much as the crap on a lot of the local radio stations these days.

[Luke9686]

I don't think you'd be saving much, why not just stay in Ames? Ankeny, while a nice place, is typical family suburbia. Very ordinary and vanilla. While I like that sort of thing now, I wouldn't have at 22...

[capitalcityguy]

I tend to agree with Luke. It would be one thing if you really wanted to live in say downtown Des Moines. There is nothing in Ames to compete with that. But Ankeny is Anytown USA and then you add on the daily commute. I guess you have the luxury of being closer to Des Moines for evenings/weekend activities, so I guess that is a consideration.

[duster1979]

I used to make half that commute, working in Ankeny and living in Huxley. In two winters I had trouble getting to work just once, and that time I wound up stuck in a drift right in the middle of Highway 69 and made the Channel 13 news.

Just take it slow and give yourself plenty of time and you'll be fine. If you get that once every couple of years storm where it's really dangerous to be out, just stay home.

I worked with a lot of college kids who lived in Ankeny and went to ISU. Not uncommon at all.

[Meemur]

Originally Posted by duster1979

and that time I wound up stuck in a drift right in the middle of Highway 69 and made the Channel 13 news.

Glad you're OK. That happens when conditions are just right. Yep. We just have to accept that there will be a day or two now and again when it's better to stay off the road.

[duster1979]

Originally Posted by Meemur

Glad you're OK. That happens when conditions are just right. Yep. We just have to accept that there will be a day or two now and again when it's better to stay off the road.

Oh, I was fine. I knew we'd had a major storm overnight, but when I walked out of the house it didn't seem bad. In town there wasn't much wind. As soon as I got out of town just a little I knew I wouldn't make it and decided to turn back, but by that time I was hung up on a drift and couldn't go anywhere. Fortunately the fire department was out patrolling looking for stranded motorists and stopped to pick me up just as I get stuck. They had a camera man with them who had gotten stranded the night before and had to spend the night at the fire station which is how I wound up on the news.

Just one of the things you take in stride if you've lived your entire life in this area, I guess.

[hahahahohoho]

Thanks for the input, guys! Still haven't made up my mind but it's nice to hear the winter commute won't be a huge problem if I choose Ankeny.