Waukee, IA to Keokuk, IA is 200.2 miles and takes about 4h via IA 163, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip within the Midwest, connecting two points in Iowa. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a relatively quick drive. With only one recommended stop and a duration under half a day, it's a solid choice for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
100.1 miles from Waukee, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IA 163
77.6 mi
1h 29m
IA 5
51.3 mi
58m
Avenue of the Saints
26.5 mi
30m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12.9 mi
14m
US 218
10 mi
15m
US 61
5.7 mi
6m
Hickman Road
5.6 mi
9m
I 35
4.6 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
IA 163
— 77.6 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukee, IA and Keokuk, 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
26 mi·30 min·Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit onto US 218
0.4 mi·52 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 South: Keokuk
15
Turn left onto US 218
9.6 mi·14 min·US 218
16
Turn right onto US 61; US 218
5.7 mi·6 min·US 61; US 218
17
Continue on US 218; US 61 Business
3.5 mi·5 min·Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 136
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, departing Waukee in the morning will get you to Keokuk well before evening. The route is designed for a single day, so you can be flexible with your departure. Keep an eye on your fuel as you approach the end of the 77.6-mile stretch on IA 163; it's the longest segment without a major town. With only one recommended stop, plan your breaks accordingly to stay comfortable. This route is efficient, so you can afford to take your time and enjoy the drive without feeling rushed.
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 100.1 miles from Waukee, IA, or about 1h 59m 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 44 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.1 miles or 1h 59m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Keokuk, 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 200.2 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 11.6 — 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|CR R22 / 6th Street
Turn right onto CR R22 / 6th Street
Navigation decision point
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,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.40 one way
$66.79 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$36.30
$72.59
premium
$5.26
$41.45
$82.90
diesel
$6.18
$48.70
$97.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.1
0
$21.02
$9.61
Efficient EV
50.1
0
$17.52
$8.01
EV Truck/SUV
80.1
1
$28.03
$12.81
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Waukee, IA
Morning
in Waukee on Monday
Local time
8:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Keokuk, IA
Morning
in Keokuk on Monday
Local time
8:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
S 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
2 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
4h on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect about 75% of this 200.2-mile drive to be on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 77.6 miles on IA 163. After that, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. You'll notice the change from higher-speed cruising to more local traffic patterns as you get closer to Keokuk.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.6 mi on IA 163.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 163 and IA 5. You will hit about 13 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 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 200.2 miles you will encounter 13 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): Navigation decision point; 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,033 ft569 ft
Total Climb
262 ft
Total Descent
726 ft
Highest Point
1,033 ft
Elevation Range
464 ft
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 Keokuk, IA, road signs point toward Des Moines and Norwalk.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 200.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.6 miles on IA 163. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Keokuk, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR R22 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Keokuk, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
