Trip from Waukee, IA to Altoona, IA

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

35m

Distance

26 mi

42 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min

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.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Waukee, IA to Altoona, IA covers 26 miles and takes about 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 6th Street, Hickman Road, I-35 north for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.06 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

13 miles from Waukee, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 35m drive with frequent turns across 26 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

6th Street 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Waukee, IA to Altoona, IA is easy. At 35m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waukee, IA to Altoona, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
6th Street	—	—
Hickman Road	—	—
I-35 north	—	—
Bondurant	—	—
1st Avenue North	—	—

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: 6th Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waukee, IA and Altoona, IA.

1

Start on Ashworth Drive

141 ft · 7 sec · Ashworth Drive

2

Turn right onto 6th Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · 6th Street

3

Turn right onto Hickman Road

5.7 mi · 9 min · Hickman Road

4

Turn left onto I-35 north, I-80 east

0.3 mi · 38 sec · I-35 north, I-80 east

5

Merge slight left

10 mi · 11 min

6

Continue straight

0.7 mi · 51 sec

7

Continue straight

0.6 mi · 41 sec

8

Keep slight left

6.2 mi · 7 min

9

Take the exit slight right toward Bondurant, Altoona

0.4 mi · 58 sec · Bondurant, Altoona

10

Turn right onto 1st Avenue North

0.5 mi · 53 sec · 1st Avenue North

11

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 1st Avenue North

95 ft · 2 sec · 1st Avenue North

12

Exit the roundabout onto 1st Avenue North

1.0 mi · 1 min · 1st Avenue North

13

Arrive at your destination

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 13 miles from Waukee, IA, or about 17m 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 26 miles or 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 13 miles or 17m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 29m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altoona, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Waukee, IA.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Waukee, IA

This is one driving day of about 26 miles and 35m.

At 26 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 13 mi from Waukee, IA · 17m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

Des Moines, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Urbandale, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 13 miles from Waukee, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Altoona, IA

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Altoona, 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

$4.06 one way

$8.13 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$4.46	$8.93
premium	$4.89	$5.00	$10.01
diesel	$5.61	$5.74	$11.48

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: 9.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	7.8	$2.73	$1.25
Efficient EV	6.5	$2.28	$1.04
EV Truck/SUV	10.4	$3.64	$1.66

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Waukee, IA

Afternoon in Waukee on Wednesday

Local time

3:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Altoona, IA

Afternoon in Altoona on Wednesday

Local time

3:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

69°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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

35m 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 Waukee, IA to Altoona, IA covers 26 miles and takes about 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are 6th Street, Hickman Road, I-35 north. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 13 miles from Waukee, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.06 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.

The drive from Waukee, IA to Altoona, IA is easy. At 35m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waukee, IA to Altoona, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Waukee, IA to Altoona, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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