Forest City, IA to West Des Moines, IA is 129 miles and takes about 2h 43m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Iowa on a straightforward path. Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of your trip. With a duration under three hours and a modest fuel cost, this route is ideal for a single-day journey, allowing for a relaxed departure or a leisurely arrival.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.5 miles from Forest City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
59 mi
1h 4m
Sage Avenue
26.7 mi
36m
US 69
26 mi
35m
John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
12m
190th Street
3.4 mi
5m
63rd Street
1.1 mi
2m
US Highway 18
1.1 mi
1m
Vine Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 59 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest City, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on South 4th Street
358 ft·18 sec·South 4th Street
2
Turn right onto East J Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·East J Street
3
Turn right onto US 69
11 mi·15 min·US 69
4
Turn left onto US 18; US 69
1.1 mi·1 min·US Highway 18
5
Turn right onto US 69
27 mi·36 min·Sage Avenue
6
Turn left onto US 69
15 mi·20 min·US 69
7
Turn left onto CR D20
3.4 mi·5 min·190th Street
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward Somerset Road
9
Merge onto I 35
59 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
11
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi·12 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 4Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor HeightsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi·2 min·63rd Street
14
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·Vine Street
15
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 43m duration, you can easily complete this trip in one day, so consider leaving mid-morning to avoid rush hour in West Des Moines. The $20 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you depart. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 59 miles, you won't need frequent breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the final stretch into West Des Moines, as services can be more spread out on the interstate.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.5 miles from Forest City, IA, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59 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 28 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.5 miles or 1h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Forest City, 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 Forest City, IA
This is one driving day of about 129 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Forest City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 59 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 127.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East J Street
Turn right onto East J Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|US 69
Turn right onto US 69
Navigation decision point
5
58 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
117 mi into trip|~2h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
127.2 mi into trip|~2h 39m in
Take the exit toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.17 one way
$40.34 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.14
$44.29
premium
$4.89
$24.82
$49.65
diesel
$5.61
$28.48
$56.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.7
0
$13.54
$6.19
Efficient EV
32.3
0
$11.29
$5.16
EV Truck/SUV
51.6
0
$18.06
$8.26
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 15, 2026
Origin
Forest City, IA
Night
in Forest City on Saturday
Local time
11:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Night
in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
11:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
19 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
2h 43m 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 primarily a highway-focused drive, with 74% of the journey on major roadways like I 35 and US 69. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 59 miles on I 35, offering sustained cruising. While largely interstate, there are segments on roads like Sage Avenue that may offer a slight change of pace. The character remains consistent, emphasizing efficient travel over varied scenery.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Sage Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East J 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 43m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East J Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 69): Navigation decision point; at 58 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 129 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 59 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: at 0.1 miles (East J Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 69): Navigation decision point; at 58 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at West Des Moines, IA before heading back.
