Origin
Ottumwa, IA
Late night in Ottumwa on Saturday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ottumwa, IA to Waukee, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 7m
Distance
105.5 mi
170 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 58m
★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 12m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ottumwa, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Waukee, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ottumwa, IA to Waukee, IA covers 105.5 miles and takes about 2h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on A Avenue West, US 63, State Highway 5 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.4 miles on A Avenue West. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.49 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.
Midpoint
52.7 miles from Ottumwa, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 105.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Ottumwa, IA to Waukee, IA covers 105.5 miles and takes about 2h 7m, 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 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
A Avenue West is the longest continuous segment at about 32.4 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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 28.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 105.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 28.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.4 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
28.2 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville
5
80.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m 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
92.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
5
93.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
99.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m 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
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 Ottumwa, IA to Waukee, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Knoxville along the way.
Knoxville
28.2 mi in
|
~33m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| A Avenue West | 32.4 mi | 36m |
| US 63 | 22.8 mi | 26m |
| State Highway 5 | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Hickman Road | 5.7 mi | 9m |
| I 35 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Old US Highway 63 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| US 63 Business | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
A Avenue West
— 32.4 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ottumwa, IA and Waukee, IA.
1
Start on West Fourth Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
West Fourth Street
2
Turn right onto US 63 Business; IA 149
395 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Wapello Street
3
Continue on US 63 Business; IA 149
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Old US Highway 63
4
Turn left onto US 63 Business
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 63 Business
5
Merge onto US 63; IA 163
23 mi
·
26 min
·
US 63; IA 163
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville
7
Turn left onto IA 92
32 mi
·
36 min
·
A Avenue West
8
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
9
Continue on IA 5
19 mi
·
22 min
·
State Highway 5
10
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
12
Merge onto I 35
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward US 6
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto US 6
5.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Hickman Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn left onto CR R22
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
6th Street
16
Turn left onto Ashworth Drive
139 ft
·
4 sec
·
Ashworth Drive
17
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 52.7 miles from Ottumwa, IA, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.4 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 23 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.7 miles or 1h 1m 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 40m
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 Ottumwa, 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 Ottumwa, IA
This is one driving day of about 105.5 miles and 2h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Ottumwa, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on A Avenue West for about 32.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.7 mi from Ottumwa, IA · 1h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.7 miles from Ottumwa, 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
$16.49 one way
$32.99 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.11 | $36.22 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.30 | $40.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.29 | $46.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.7 | 0 | $11.08 | $5.06 |
| Efficient EV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.23 | $4.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.77 | $6.75 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Late night in Waukee on Saturday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Monroe, IA
53 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 7m 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 Ottumwa, IA to Waukee, IA covers 105.5 miles and takes about 2h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are A Avenue West, US 63, State Highway 5. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.7 miles from Ottumwa, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.49 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 105.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 28.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.4 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Ottumwa, IA to Waukee, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Knoxville along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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