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Trip from Waukee, IA to Waverly, IA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

2h 58m

Distance

135.8 mi

219 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 47m ★
6 AM
2h 58m
8 AM
3h 21m
10 AM
3h 6m
12 PM
3h 4m
3 PM
3h 7m
5 PM
3h 20m
8 PM
2h 52m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

human settlement in Dallas County, Iowa, United States of America

Waukee, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Bremer County, Iowa, United States

Waverly, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Waukee, IA to Waverly, IA covers 135.8 miles and takes about 2h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Northeast Hubbell Road, Sanford Avenue, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.2 miles on Northeast Hubbell Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.23 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

67.9 miles from Waukee, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 2h 58m drive with frequent turns across 135.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northeast Hubbell Road is the longest continuous segment at about 35.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 6 / Hickman Road.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 135.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 6 / Hickman Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 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
5.9 mi into trip | ~10m in

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

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I-35 north, I-80 east
5
6.2 mi into trip | ~10m in | I 80; I 35

Merge onto I 80; I 35

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
17.9 mi into trip | ~24m in | I 80

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
8
22.4 mi into trip | ~29m in | US 65

Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant

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 142 Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...

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 Waverly, IA, road signs point toward Bondurant and Cr D18: Cedar Falls.

Bondurant

22.4 mi in | ~29m | via US 65

Cr D18: Cedar Falls

112.5 mi in | ~2h 26m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Northeast Hubbell Road 35.2 mi 41m
Sanford Avenue 15.9 mi 21m
I 80 15.5 mi 17m
Avenue of the Saints 14.4 mi 17m
US 20 11.2 mi 12m
240th Street 6.3 mi 9m
Marsh Avenue 5.9 mi 8m
Hickman Road 5.7 mi 9m
Longest stretch: Northeast Hubbell Road — 35.2 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waukee, IA and Waverly, 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

5.7 mi · 9 min · Hickman Road
Use the left lane.
4

Turn left

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east Use the left lane.
5

Merge onto I 80; I 35

10 mi · 11 min · I 80; I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on I 35; I 80

0.7 mi · 50 sec · I 35; I 80
7

Continue on I 80; I 35

0.6 mi · 40 sec · I 80; I 35
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

4.5 mi · 5 min · I 80
Use the slight left lane.
9

Take the exit onto US 65

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 65
Exit 142 Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant Use the slight right lane.
10

Turn left onto US 65; IA 330

1.2 mi · 1 min · Northeast Hubbell Avenue
11

Continue on US 65; IA 330

35 mi · 41 min · Northeast Hubbell Road
12

Turn left onto IA 330

5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue
13

Continue on IA 330

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
14

Continue on IA 330

4.3 mi · 5 min · 160th Street
15

Turn left onto IA 14

16 mi · 21 min · Sanford Avenue
16

Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175

6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street
17

Turn left onto M Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue
18

Continue on County Road T37

1.0 mi · 1 min · County Road T37
19

Turn sharp right onto 210th Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · 210th Street
20

Turn left onto IA 14

4.4 mi · 6 min · N Avenue
21

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
22

Merge onto US 20

11 mi · 12 min · US 20
23

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward CR D18: Cedar Falls
24

Turn left onto Grundy Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Grundy Road
25

Continue on University Avenue

3.5 mi · 4 min · University Avenue
26

Enter roundabout onto Greenhill Road

8 ft · 0 sec · Greenhill Road
27

Continue on Greenhill Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · Greenhill Road
28

Turn left onto IA 27; IA 58

14 mi · 17 min · Avenue of the Saints
29

Take the exit onto US 218 Business

0.7 mi · 1 min · US 218 Business
30

Continue on 4th Avenue Southwest

0.6 mi · 59 sec · 4th Avenue Southwest
31

Continue on US 218 Business

0.6 mi · 1 min · 4th Street Southwest
32

Continue on 4th Avenue Southwest

0.2 mi · 18 sec · 4th Avenue Southwest
33

Turn straight onto US 218 Business

0.6 mi · 1 min · 4th Street Southwest
34

Turn right onto IA 3

62 ft · 2 sec · West Bremer Avenue
35

Arrive at destination

IA 3

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.9 miles from Waukee, IA, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.2 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 80 miles or 1h 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 67.9 miles or 1h 25m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waverly, 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 135.8 miles and 2h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 Northeast Hubbell Road for about 35.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 67.9 mi from Waukee, IA · 1h 25m into the drive

city in Story County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ames, IA

68 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

Waterloo, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ames, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67.9 miles from Waukee, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Waverly, IA

The final approach into Waverly, 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 Waverly, 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

$21.23 one way

$42.46 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $23.31 $46.62
premium $4.89 $26.13 $52.27
diesel $5.61 $29.98 $59.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.7 0 $14.26 $6.52
Efficient EV 34 0 $11.88 $5.43
EV Truck/SUV 54.3 0 $19.01 $8.69

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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 data refreshed 9 hours ago

Origin

Waukee, IA

Afternoon in Waukee on Wednesday

Local time

12:20 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waverly, IA

Afternoon in Waverly on Wednesday

Local time

12:20 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°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

22 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

2h 58m 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 Waverly, IA covers 135.8 miles and takes about 2h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northeast Hubbell Road, Sanford Avenue, I 80. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.9 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 $21.23 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 135.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 6 / Hickman Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Waukee, IA and Waverly, IA, road signs point toward Bondurant and Cr D18: Cedar Falls.

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