Origin
Le Mars, IA
Late night in Le Mars on Friday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Le Mars, IA to Waukee, IA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
3h 20m
Distance
214.2 mi
345 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 8m
★
6 AM
3h 20m
8 AM
3h 44m
10 AM
3h 28m
12 PM
3h 26m
3 PM
3h 30m
5 PM
3h 43m
8 PM
3h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Le Mars, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Waukee, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Le Mars, IA to Waukee, IA covers 214.2 miles and takes about 3h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 5th Avenue Northwest, Plymouth Street Southwest, Plymouth Street West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.49 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
107.1 miles from Le Mars, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 20m. Total distance: 214.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 20m drive with frequent turns across 214.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
5th Avenue Northwest is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 20m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Le Mars, IA to Waukee, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 5th Avenue Northwest | — | — |
| Plymouth Street Southwest | — | — |
| Plymouth Street West | — | — |
| Highway 3 | — | — |
| US 75 | — | — |
| I 29 | — | — |
| I 29 South | — | — |
| I 880 East | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
5th Avenue Northwest
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Le Mars, IA and Waukee, IA.
1
Start on 1st Street Northeast
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street Northeast
2
At the end of the road, turn left onto 5th Avenue Northwest
440 ft
·
15 sec
·
5th Avenue Northwest
3
Turn right onto Plymouth Street Southwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Plymouth Street Southwest
4
Continue on Plymouth Street West
367 ft
·
6 sec
·
Plymouth Street West
5
Continue on State Highway 3
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 3
6
Take the ramp left toward US 75
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 75
7
Merge slight left
28 mi
·
33 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 29: Sioux City, Council Bluffs
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 29: Sioux City, Council Bluffs
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 29 South: Council Bluffs, Sioux Gateway Airport
73 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 29 South: Council Bluffs, Sioux Gateway Airport
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 880 East: Des Moines
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 880 East: Des Moines
11
Continue straight
16 mi
·
17 min
12
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Des Moines
0.7 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 80 East: Des Moines
13
Merge slight right
89 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward CR R22: Waukee, Booneville
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
CR R22: Waukee, Booneville
15
Turn left onto Ute Avenue
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Ute Avenue
16
Continue on 6th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Street
17
Turn sharp right onto Ashworth Drive
141 ft
·
5 sec
·
Ashworth Drive
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 107.1 miles from Le Mars, IA, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
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 47 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.1 miles or 1h 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 2h 44m
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 Le Mars, 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 Le Mars, IA
This is one driving day of about 214.2 miles and 3h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Le Mars, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 107.1 mi from Le Mars, IA · 1h 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
107 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 107.1 miles from Le Mars, 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
$33.49 one way
$66.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
75 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $36.77 | $73.54 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.22 | $82.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.29 | $94.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.3 | 0 | $22.49 | $10.28 |
| Efficient EV | 53.6 | 0 | $18.74 | $8.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 85.7 | 1 | $29.99 | $13.71 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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
Late night in Waukee on Friday
Local time
2:36 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
20 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
3h 20m 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 Le Mars, IA to Waukee, IA covers 214.2 miles and takes about 3h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 5th Avenue Northwest, Plymouth Street Southwest, Plymouth Street West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 107.1 miles from Le Mars, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.49 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 20m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Le Mars, IA to Waukee, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Le Mars, IA to Waukee, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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