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
.
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.
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.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 49.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.1 mi from Ankeny, IA
· 1h 6m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
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
Morning
in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
8:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Forest City, IA
Morning
in Forest City on Saturday
Local time
8:14 AM
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Forest City, IA covers 114.2 miles and takes about 2h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 69, Little Wall Lake Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.1 miles from Ankeny, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.85 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 2h 25m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
The route from Ankeny, IA to Forest City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
