Origin
Waukee, IA
Late night in Waukee on Saturday
Local time
3:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waukee, IA to Fort Madison, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 51m
Distance
193 mi
311 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 39m
★
6 AM
3h 51m
8 AM
4h 17m
10 AM
4h 0m
12 PM
3h 58m
3 PM
4h 2m
5 PM
4h 16m
8 PM
3h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waukee, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Madison, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
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 6th Street, Hickman Road, I-35 south for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. 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 (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 51m drive with frequent turns across 193 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Waukee, IA to Fort Madison, IA is easy. At 3h 51m 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 Fort Madison, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 6th Street | — | — |
| Hickman Road | — | — |
| I-35 south | — | — |
| IA 5 | — | — |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | — | — |
| IA 5 South | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| IA 2 | — | — |
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 Fort Madison, 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
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Hickman Road
4
Take the exit right toward I-35 south, I-80 west
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
I-35 south, I-80 west
5
Merge slight left
0.9 mi
·
1 min
6
Keep slight left
4.6 mi
·
5 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, Norwalk
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, Norwalk
8
Continue on Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
9
Take the exit slight right toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
19 mi
·
22 min
·
IA 5 South: Carlisle
10
Turn left
32 mi
·
36 min
11
Take the exit right
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
12
Merge slight left
78 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
13
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
25 mi
·
28 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit slight right toward IA 2: Donnellson, Fort Madison
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
IA 2: Donnellson, Fort Madison
15
Turn left onto State Highway 2
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 2
16
Continue on Avenue O
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Avenue O
17
Continue on Old Highway 61
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Old Highway 61
18
Continue on Avenue L
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Avenue L
19
Turn left onto 18th Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
18th Street
20
Turn right onto Avenue H
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue H
21
Turn right onto Avenue I
138 ft
·
12 sec
·
Avenue I
22
Turn left
62 ft
·
4 sec
23
Arrive at your 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.
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 50m 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 9m
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.
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
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 96.5 miles from Waukee, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fort Madison, IA
The final approach into Fort Madison, 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 Fort Madison, 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
$30.17 one way
$60.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $33.13 | $66.26 |
| premium | $4.89 | $37.14 | $74.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.61 | $85.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
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.
Destination
Fort Madison, IA
Late night in Fort Madison on Saturday
Local time
3:50 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 6th Street, Hickman Road, I-35 south. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
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.
The drive from Waukee, IA to Fort Madison, IA is easy. At 3h 51m 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 Fort Madison, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waukee, IA to Fort Madison, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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