Oskaloosa, IA to Waukee, IA is 78.3 miles and takes about 1h 36m via State Highway 5, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically within Iowa, making it a straightforward journey. The route offers a mixed drive, so expect some variation in road types and speeds. With a duration under two hours and a low fuel cost, this is a very manageable same-day trip. It's a practical option if you're looking for a relatively quick transit between these two Iowa locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.2 miles from Oskaloosa, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
A Avenue East
33.9 mi
39m
State Highway 5
19.2 mi
22m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12.3 mi
14m
Hickman Road
5.7 mi
9m
I 35
5.7 mi
6m
6th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Ashworth Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
A Avenue East
— 33.9 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oskaloosa, IA and Waukee, IA.
1
Start on this road
56 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto IA 92
34 mi·39 min·A Avenue East
3
Turn right
0.1 mi·7 sec
4
Continue on IA 5
19 mi·22 min·State Highway 5
5
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
12 mi·14 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
7
Merge onto I 35
5.7 mi·6 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward US 6Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto US 6
5.7 mi·9 min·Hickman Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn left onto CR R22
0.2 mi·34 sec·6th Street
11
Turn left onto Ashworth Drive
139 ft·4 sec·Ashworth Drive
12
Arrive at destination
Ashworth Drive
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 36 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day, offering flexibility for when you depart. You likely won't need extensive stops, but if you do, consider breaking up the 33.9-mile stretch on A Avenue East. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it's an economical trip. Keep an eye out for the transition onto State Highway 5, as this often signals a shift in driving conditions. The mixed drive profile suggests being prepared for both quicker highway sections and potentially slower, more local roads.
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 39.2 miles from Oskaloosa, IA, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.9 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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.2 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waukee, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Oskaloosa, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Oskaloosa, IA
This is one driving day of about 78.3 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Oskaloosa, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on A Avenue East for about 33.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 72.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 92 / A Avenue East
Turn right onto IA 92 / A Avenue East
Navigation decision point
5
53.2 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
65.6 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
5
66.4 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
72.1 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 6
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 6
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.24 one way
$24.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.44
$26.88
premium
$4.89
$15.07
$30.14
diesel
$5.61
$17.29
$34.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.5
0
$8.22
$3.76
Efficient EV
19.6
0
$6.85
$3.13
EV Truck/SUV
31.3
0
$10.96
$5.01
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Oskaloosa, IA
Morning
in Oskaloosa on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waukee, IA
Morning
in Waukee on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Altoona, IA
39 mi in
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
4 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
1h 36m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 78.3-mile drive features a 32% highway share, meaning you'll experience a blend of faster-paced travel and more local road driving. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 33.9 miles on A Avenue East, which will likely feel like a more open, less interrupted segment. As you transition between A Avenue East and State Highway 5, you might notice changes in scenery and traffic patterns. The Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway is another key part of this route, suggesting a well-maintained, potentially faster section. Overall, expect a varied driving experience that isn't solely confined to interstate speeds.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.9 mi on A Avenue East.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 92 / A Avenue East.
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 78.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 (IA 92 / A Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 53.2 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Oskaloosa is a small city in Mahaska County, Iowa. Oskaloosa is home to William Penn University, a private university, and Lake Keomah State Park which is four miles east of the city.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 78.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.9 miles on A Avenue East. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Waukee, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 92 / A Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 53.2 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waukee, IA before heading back.
