Origin
Altoona, IA
Evening in Altoona on Wednesday
Local time
5:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Altoona, IA to Waukee, IA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
34m
Distance
25.1 mi
40 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Altoona, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Waukee, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Altoona, IA to Waukee, IA covers 25.1 miles and takes about 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, Hickman Road, 8th Street Southwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.5 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.92 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
12.5 miles from Altoona, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Altoona, IA to Waukee, IA covers 25.1 miles and takes about 34m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 14.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 6 Hist / 8th Street Southwest.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 25.1 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 6 Hist / 8th Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 4.4 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 6 Hist / 8th Street Southwest
Turn right onto US 6 Hist / 8th Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
5
4.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
18.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Hickman Road, Adel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 125
Toward US 6: Hickman Road, Adel
5
19.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
US 6 / Hickman Road
Turn right onto US 6 / Hickman Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Altoona, IA to Waukee, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Adel along the way.
Adel
18.9 mi in
|
~24m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 14.5 mi | 16m |
| Hickman Road | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| 8th Street Southwest | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| 6th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ashworth Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 1st Avenue South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 14.5 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, IA and Waukee, IA.
1
Start on 1st Avenue South
48 ft
·
3 sec
·
1st Avenue South
2
Turn right onto US 6 Hist
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
8th Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
4
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
this road
5
Merge onto US 65
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
6
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
7
Merge onto I 80
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 125
Toward US 6: Hickman Road, Adel
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto US 6
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Hickman Road
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto CR R22
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
6th Street
11
Turn left onto Ashworth Drive
139 ft
·
4 sec
·
Ashworth Drive
12
Arrive at destination
Ashworth Drive
Trip Plan
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 12.5 miles from Altoona, IA, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.5 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.5 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waukee, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Altoona, IA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Altoona, IA
This is one driving day of about 25.1 miles and 34m.
At 25.1 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 14.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.5 mi from Altoona, IA · 16m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12.5 miles from Altoona, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waukee, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Waukee, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.92 one way
$7.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.31 | $8.62 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.83 | $9.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.54 | $11.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.64 | $1.20 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10 | 0 | $3.51 | $1.61 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Waukee, IA
Evening in Waukee on Wednesday
Local time
5:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
34m 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 Altoona, IA to Waukee, IA covers 25.1 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Hickman Road, 8th Street Southwest. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.5 miles from Altoona, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.92 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 25.1 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 6 Hist / 8th Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 4.4 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Altoona, IA to Waukee, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Adel along the way.
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