Ankeny, IA to Forest City, IA is 114.2 miles and takes about 2h 25m via I 35 and US 69, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically within Iowa, making it a straightforward drive for those already in the region. Expect a highway-focused experience that's efficient and easy to navigate. With a recommended single day for completion, this route is ideal for a quick transfer or a short excursion without requiring an overnight stay. The relatively short distance and predictable duration make it a practical choice for a variety of travel needs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.1 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
49.6 mi
53m
US 69
36.9 mi
51m
Little Wall Lake Road
19.5 mi
26m
US 20
3.3 mi
3m
West 1st Street
1.5 mi
3m
US 18
1.1 mi
1m
220th Street
0.8 mi
1m
East J Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 49.6 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Forest City, IA.
1
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·4 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto West 1st Street
1.5 mi·3 min·West 1st Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
5
Merge onto I 35
50 mi·53 min·I 35
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
7
Merge onto US 20
3.3 mi·3 min·US 20
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward US 69
9
Turn right onto US 69
19 mi·26 min·Little Wall Lake Road
10
Turn right onto US 69; IA 3
0.8 mi·1 min·220th Street
11
Turn straight onto US 69; IA 3
12 mi·17 min·US 69; IA 3
12
Continue on US 69
14 mi·18 min·US 69
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 18; US 69
1.1 mi·1 min·US 18; US 69
14
Turn right onto US 69
11 mi·15 min·US 69
15
Turn left onto East J Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·East J Street
16
Turn left onto South 4th Street
358 ft·15 sec·South 4th Street
17
Arrive at destination
South 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 25m drive time, departing in the morning from Ankeny, IA, allows ample time to reach Forest City, IA, well before sunset. With only 114.2 miles to cover and a fuel cost estimated at $18, you won't need frequent stops for gas. Consider a brief pause around the halfway mark if needed, but the drive is manageable without extensive breaks. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 35 to US 69, as this is a key point in your navigation. The flexibility of a single-day trip means you can adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.1 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 25 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.1 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forest City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ankeny, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ankeny, IA
This is one driving day of about 114.2 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Ankeny, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 49.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 114.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Southwest Walnut Street
Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|West 1st Street
At end of road, turn right onto West 1st Street
Navigation decision point
4
51.6 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
5
101.9 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|US 18; US 69
At end of road, turn left onto US 18; US 69
Navigation decision point
5
114.1 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|South 4th Street
Turn left onto South 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.85 one way
$35.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.60
$39.21
premium
$4.89
$21.98
$43.95
diesel
$5.61
$25.21
$50.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.3
0
$11.99
$5.48
Efficient EV
28.6
0
$9.99
$4.57
EV Truck/SUV
45.7
0
$15.99
$7.31
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ankeny, IA
Night
in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Forest City, IA
Night
in Forest City on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Gilbert, IA
57 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 25m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 80% of the journey on faster roads like I 35 and US 69. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 49.6 miles on I 35, offering a sustained period of consistent speed. While much of the drive will be on these main arteries, the inclusion of local roads like Little Wall Lake Road suggests a potential for slight variations in pace as you approach your destination. Overall, the character leans towards efficient travel, minimizing time spent on slower, more winding paths.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.6 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 69. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 25m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 114.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 49.6 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Forest City, IA before heading back.
