Forest City, IA to Ankeny, IA is 113.6 miles and takes about 2h 24m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Iowa, making it a straightforward journey. You'll primarily be on interstate highways, offering a direct and efficient path. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip. Consider this an easy drive for when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.8 miles from Forest City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 113.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 71% of the journey taking place on major roadways like I 35 and US 69. You'll experience a longest stretch of 53.7 miles on I 35, meaning extended periods of consistent speed. While there are segments on Sage Avenue and US 69 that might offer a slight change of pace, the overall character is that of a swift and direct transit. Expect a steady, efficient travel experience rather than a winding, scenic tour.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 53.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 24m 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 58 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East J Street
Turn right onto East J Street
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
111.7 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
111.9 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
113.6 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|Southwest 3rd Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
53.7 mi
58m
Sage Avenue
26.7 mi
36m
US 69
26 mi
35m
190th Street
3.4 mi
5m
East 1st Street
1.4 mi
3m
US Highway 18
1.1 mi
1m
East J Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 53.7 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest City, IA and Ankeny, 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
54 mi·58 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 92Toward 1st Street
11
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft·9 sec
12
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi·3 min·East 1st Street
13
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
14
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·2 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
15
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 1-day trip covering 113.6 miles and taking under 2.5 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving anytime in the morning will comfortably get you to Ankeny before the afternoon rush. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, you'll want to ensure your tank is full before you depart Forest City, as the longest stretch without a major town is 53.7 miles. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan any necessary breaks for gas or rest at your convenience along I 35.
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 56.8 miles from Forest City, IA, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.7 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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.8 miles or 1h 19m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ankeny, 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 113.6 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Forest City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 53.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.8 mi from Forest City, IA
· 1h 19m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.76 one way
$35.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.50
$39.00
premium
$4.89
$21.86
$43.72
diesel
$5.61
$25.08
$50.16
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: 39.7 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
34.1
0
$11.93
$5.45
Efficient EV
28.4
0
$9.94
$4.54
EV Truck/SUV
45.4
0
$15.90
$7.27
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
Forest City, IA
Morning
in Forest City on Saturday
Local time
8:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Morning
in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
8:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°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 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 24m 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 Forest City, IA to Ankeny, IA covers 113.6 miles and takes about 2h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, Sage Avenue, US 69. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.8 miles from Forest City, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.76 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 24m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East J Street): Navigation decision point; at 58 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Forest City, IA to Ankeny, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
