The drive from Waukee, IA to Fort Madison, IA covers 193 miles and takes about 3h 51m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on IA 163, IA 5, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 77.6 miles on IA 163.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.17 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
96.5 miles from Waukee, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 193 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 51m highway drive covering 193 miles, with most of the trip on IA 163 and IA 5. The longest continuous stretch is about 77.6 miles on IA 163.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IA 163 is the longest continuous segment at about 77.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 163 and IA 5. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 6 / Hickman Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 193 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.2 miles (US 6 / Hickman Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 6 / Hickman Road
Turn right onto US 6 / Hickman Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
5.8 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward I-35 south, I-80 west
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west
6
7 mi into trip|~11m in|I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11.6 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, Norwalk
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 68
Toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport,...
5
179.3 mi into trip|~3h 30m in
Take the exit toward IA 2: Donnellson, Fort Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 2: Donnellson, Fort Madison
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waukee, IA and Fort Madison, IA, road signs point toward Des Moines and Norwalk.
Des Moines
11.6 mi in|~16m
Norwalk
11.6 mi in|~16m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IA 163
77.6 mi
1h 29m
IA 5
51.3 mi
58m
Avenue of the Saints
24.6 mi
28m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12.9 mi
14m
State Highway 2
8.9 mi
12m
Hickman Road
5.6 mi
9m
I 35
4.6 mi
5m
Avenue O
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
IA 163
— 77.6 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukee, IA and Fort Madison, IA.
1
Start on Ashworth Drive
139 ft·7 sec·Ashworth Drive
2
Turn right onto CR R22
0.2 mi·33 sec·6th Street
3
Turn right onto US 6
5.6 mi·9 min·Hickman Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I-35 south, I-80 westUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 80; I 35
0.9 mi·1 min·I 80; I 35
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
4.6 mi·5 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 68Toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, NorwalkUse the slight right lane.
8
Continue on IA 5
13 mi·14 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto IA 5
19 mi·22 min·IA 5
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
10
Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92
32 mi·36 min·IA 5; IA 92
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
12
Merge onto IA 163
78 mi·1 hr 29 min·IA 163
13
Merge onto US 34; US 218; IA 27; IA 163
25 mi·28 min·Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward IA 2: Donnellson, Fort Madison
15
Turn left onto IA 2
8.9 mi·12 min·State Highway 2
16
Continue on Avenue O
1.7 mi·2 min·Avenue O
17
Continue on US 61 Business
0.3 mi·27 sec·Old Highway 61
18
Continue on US 61 Business
1.5 mi·2 min·Avenue L
19
Turn left onto US 61 Business
0.2 mi·21 sec·18th Street
20
Turn right onto US 61 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Avenue H
21
Turn right onto Avenue I
139 ft·12 sec·Avenue I
22
Turn left
61 ft·4 sec
23
Arrive at 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 96.5 miles from Waukee, IA, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.6 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 42 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.5 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Madison, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waukee, 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 Waukee, IA
This is one driving day of about 193 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Waukee, 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 IA 163 for about 77.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 96.5 mi from Waukee, IA
· 1h 55m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.9
0
$20.26
$9.26
Efficient EV
48.3
0
$16.89
$7.72
EV Truck/SUV
77.2
0
$27.02
$12.35
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Waukee, IA
Morning
in Waukee on Saturday
Local time
7:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Madison, IA
Morning
in Fort Madison on Saturday
Local time
7:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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 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 51m 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 Fort Madison, IA covers 193 miles and takes about 3h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IA 163, IA 5, Avenue of the Saints. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 96.5 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 $30.17 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 193 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.2 miles (US 6 / Hickman Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Waukee, IA and Fort Madison, IA, road signs point toward Des Moines and Norwalk.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
