Origin
Indiana, IA
Morning in Indiana on Wednesday
Local time
7:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Indiana, IA to Waukee, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
63.5 mi
102 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Indiana, IA
Kelly
Waukee, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Indiana, IA to Waukee, IA covers 63.5 miles and takes about 1h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Highway 5, IA 5, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.2 miles on State Highway 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.93 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
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
31.7 miles from Indiana, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 40m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 21m highway drive covering 63.5 miles, with most of the trip on State Highway 5 and IA 5. The longest continuous stretch is about 19.2 miles on State Highway 5.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 19.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 5 and IA 5. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near IA 5.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.5 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 38.4 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
IA 5
Turn sharp left onto IA 5
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
38.4 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
50.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
5
51.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
57.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward US 6
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 6
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 5 | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| IA 5 | 17 mi | 21m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Hickman Road | 5.7 mi | 9m |
| I 35 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| County Highway G76 | 2 mi | 3m |
| 6th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ashworth Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 5
— 19.2 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indiana, IA and Waukee, IA.
1
Start on CR G76
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway G76
2
Continue on CR G76
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
County Highway G76
3
Turn sharp left onto IA 5
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
IA 5
4
Take the ramp onto IA 5
11 mi
·
12 min
·
IA 5
5
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
6
Continue on IA 5
19 mi
·
22 min
·
State Highway 5
7
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
9
Merge onto I 35
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward US 6
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto US 6
5.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Hickman Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn left onto CR R22
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
6th Street
13
Turn left onto Ashworth Drive
139 ft
·
4 sec
·
Ashworth Drive
14
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 31.7 miles from Indiana, IA, or about 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.2 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 63.5 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.7 miles or 40m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waukee, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Indiana, 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 Indiana, IA
This is one driving day of about 63.5 miles and 1h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Indiana, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 5 for about 19.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.7 mi from Indiana, IA · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 63.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.7 miles from Indiana, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waukee, IA
The final approach into Waukee, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Waukee, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.93 one way
$19.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.90 | $21.80 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.22 | $24.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.02 | $28.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.67 | $3.05 |
| Efficient EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.89 | $4.06 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Waukee, IA
Morning in Waukee on Wednesday
Local time
7:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°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 21m 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 Indiana, IA to Waukee, IA covers 63.5 miles and takes about 1h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 5, IA 5, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.7 miles from Indiana, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.93 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 63.5 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 38.4 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Indiana, IA to Waukee, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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