Origin
Muscatine, IA
Afternoon in Muscatine on Monday
Local time
4:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Muscatine, IA to Waukee, IA
Drive Time
3h 12m
Distance
167 mi
269 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 1m
★
6 AM
3h 13m
8 AM
3h 37m
10 AM
3h 21m
12 PM
3h 19m
3 PM
3h 22m
5 PM
3h 35m
8 PM
3h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Muscatine, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Waukee, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Muscatine, IA to Waukee, IA covers 167 miles and takes about 3h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, State Highway 38, Hickman Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 145.3 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.37 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
83.5 miles from Muscatine, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 3h 12m highway drive covering 167 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and State Highway 38. The longest continuous stretch is about 145.3 miles on I 80.
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 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 145.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 38. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 3rd Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 12m drive. You will face about 8 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 (East 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 61 Business / East 2nd Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 15.5 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 3rd Street
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 61 Business / East 2nd Street
Enter roundabout onto US 61 Business / East 2nd Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
15.5 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
160.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 2m 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
161.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 3m in
|
US 6 / Hickman Road
Turn right onto US 6 / Hickman Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 145.3 mi | 2h 38m |
| State Highway 38 | 7.6 mi | 10m |
| Hickman Road | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| US 6 | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| Park Avenue | 2 mi | 4m |
| East 2nd Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 6th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 145.3 mi, about 2h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Muscatine, IA and Waukee, IA.
1
Start on Walnut Street
157 ft
·
10 sec
·
Walnut Street
2
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
360 ft
·
17 sec
·
East 3rd Street
3
Turn right onto Mulberry Avenue
330 ft
·
9 sec
·
Mulberry Avenue
4
Enter roundabout onto US 61 Business
193 ft
·
3 sec
·
East 2nd Street
5
Continue on US 61 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
6
Continue on US 61 Business; IA 38; IA 92
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Park Avenue
7
Continue on IA 38
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 38
8
Continue on US 6
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
US 6
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
10
Merge onto I 80
145 mi
·
2 hr 38 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 125
Toward US 6: Hickman Road, Adel
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto US 6
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Hickman Road
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto CR R22
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
6th Street
14
Turn left onto Ashworth Drive
139 ft
·
4 sec
·
Ashworth Drive
15
Arrive at destination
Ashworth Drive
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 83.5 miles from Muscatine, IA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.3 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.5 miles or 1h 38m 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 36m
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 Muscatine, 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 Muscatine, IA
This is one driving day of about 167 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Muscatine, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 145.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.5 mi from Muscatine, IA · 1h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 83.5 miles from Muscatine, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 145.3 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.37 one way
$50.73 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $27.96 | $55.93 |
| premium | $4.80 | $31.53 | $63.05 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.10 | $74.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.1 | 0 | $17.54 | $8.02 |
| Efficient EV | 41.8 | 0 | $14.61 | $6.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.8 | 0 | $23.38 | $10.69 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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
Afternoon in Waukee on Monday
Local time
4:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°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
3 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
3h 12m 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 Muscatine, IA to Waukee, IA covers 167 miles and takes about 3h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, State Highway 38, Hickman 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 83.5 miles from Muscatine, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.37 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 12m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 61 Business / East 2nd Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 15.5 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Muscatine, IA to Waukee, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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