This straightforward 85.5-mile drive from Ankeny, IA to Fort Dodge, IA takes about 1 hour and 42 minutes and is easily manageable as a day trip. Primarily utilizing I-35 and US-20, this route keeps you on well-maintained highways for 91% of the journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $13, it's an economical option for a quick hop within the Midwest. You won't need to break this trip up, offering flexibility for when you depart and how you spend your time upon arrival.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.8 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
49.6 mi
53m
US 20
28.1 mi
32m
West 1st Street
1.5 mi
3m
8th Avenue South
1 mi
2m
Mill Road
1 mi
1m
Quail Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Paragon Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Nelson Avenue
0.7 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 Fort Dodge, 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
28 mi·32 min·US 20
8
Take the exit onto US 20 Business
0.3 mi·48 sec·US 20 Business
9
Turn right onto US 20 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Nelson Avenue
10
Continue on US 20 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Quail Avenue
11
Turn left onto 220th Street
0.5 mi·47 sec·220th Street
12
Continue on Mill Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Mill Road
13
Continue on Paragon Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Paragon Avenue
14
Continue on South 32nd Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South 32nd Street
15
Turn left onto 8th Avenue South
1.0 mi·2 min·8th Avenue South
16
Arrive at destination
8th Avenue South
Trip Plan
This 1-hour-and-42-minute journey is short enough to offer significant flexibility, so consider leaving mid-morning to avoid rush hour and have ample time to settle in. With no planned stops, you can easily fuel up before you leave Ankeny or at a convenient point along I-35 or US-20. Keep an eye out for the transition from I-35 to US-20, as this is where your main road changes. Given the low fuel cost of around $13, you won't need to worry extensively about budgeting for gas on this relatively brief trip.
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 42.8 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 49m 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.8 miles or 49m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Dodge, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ankeny, IA
This is one driving day of about 85.5 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 84.5 — 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
3
2 mi into trip|~4m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining
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
4
84.5 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|8th Avenue South
Turn left onto 8th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.37 one way
$26.73 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.68
$29.35
premium
$4.89
$16.45
$32.91
diesel
$5.61
$18.88
$37.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.7
0
$8.98
$4.10
Efficient EV
21.4
0
$7.48
$3.42
EV Truck/SUV
34.2
0
$11.97
$5.47
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Ankeny, IA
Late night
in Ankeny on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Dodge, IA
Late night
in Fort Dodge on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 42m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 85.5-mile trip. With 91% of the drive on major roadways like I-35 and US-20, you'll mostly be covering ground efficiently. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a solid 49.6 miles on I-35, allowing for a consistent pace. While the bulk of the route is highway, the transition onto West 1st Street in Fort Dodge will bring you into a more local setting as you reach your destination.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 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 20. 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 1h 42m drive. You will face about 9 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 2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Fort Dodge is a city of 25,000 people (2020) in North Central Iowa on the Des Moines River. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa.
The longest stretch is about 49.6 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Dodge, IA before heading back.
