The drive from Waukee, IA to Le Mars, IA covers 212.9 miles and takes about 3h 57m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, I 29, US 20 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 89.2 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.28 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
106.4 miles from Waukee, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 212.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 57m highway drive covering 212.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and I 29. The longest continuous stretch is about 89.2 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 17 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 89.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR R22 / 6th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 212.9 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (CR R22 / 6th Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 92.9 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CR R22 / 6th Street
Turn sharp left onto CR R22 / 6th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
9
92.9 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|I 880
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880 toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27
Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
6
109.6 mi into trip|~2h in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 29 North: Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 0B
Toward I 29 North: Sioux City
5
182.2 mi into trip|~3h 18m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East, US 75 North: Fort Dodge, Le Mars
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 East, US 75 North: Fort Dodge, Le...
5
210.5 mi into trip|~3h 52m in
Take the exit toward IA 3: Plymouth Street, Business District
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 3: Plymouth Street, Business District
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 Waukee, IA to Le Mars, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Sioux City along the way.
Sioux City
92.9 mi in|~1h 42m|via I 880
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
89.2 mi
1h 35m
I 29
72.2 mi
1h 17m
US 20
27.5 mi
33m
I 880
16.7 mi
17m
Ute Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
State Highway 3
0.9 mi
1m
6th Street
0.8 mi
1m
Plymouth Street Southwest
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 89.2 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukee, IA and Le Mars, IA.
1
Start on Ashworth Drive
139 ft·14 sec·Ashworth Drive
2
Turn sharp left onto CR R22
0.8 mi·1 min·6th Street
3
Continue on CR R22
2.6 mi·4 min·Ute Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I-80 west: Council Bluffs
5
Merge onto I 80
89 mi·1 hr 35 min·I 80
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
17 mi·17 min·I 880
Exit 27Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux CityUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 0BToward I 29 North: Sioux City
8
Merge onto I 29
72 mi·1 hr 17 min·I 29
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward US 20 East, US 75 North: Fort Dodge, Le Mars
10
Merge onto US 20; US 75
28 mi·33 min·US 20; US 75
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward IA 3: Plymouth Street, Business District
12
Turn right onto IA 3
0.9 mi·1 min·State Highway 3
13
Continue on IA 3
366 ft·6 sec·Plymouth Street West
14
Continue on IA 3
0.5 mi·1 min·Plymouth Street Southwest
15
Turn left onto US 75 Business
440 ft·12 sec·5th Avenue Northwest
16
Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest
0.4 mi·1 min·1st Street Northwest
17
Arrive at destination
1st Street Northeast
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 106.4 miles from Waukee, IA, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.2 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 47 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.4 miles or 1h 56m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Le Mars, 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 212.9 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 I 80 for about 89.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 106.4 mi from Waukee, IA
· 1h 56m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.9
0
$22.35
$10.22
Efficient EV
53.2
0
$18.63
$8.52
EV Truck/SUV
85.2
1
$29.81
$13.63
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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
Late night
in Waukee on Friday
Local time
3:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Le Mars, IA
Late night
in Le Mars on Friday
Local time
3:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°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 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 57m 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 Le Mars, IA covers 212.9 miles and takes about 3h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 29, US 20. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 106.4 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 $33.28 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 212.9 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (CR R22 / 6th Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 92.9 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Waukee, IA to Le Mars, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Sioux City along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
