The Waukee Brief
Waukee is a fast-growing, car-oriented suburb on the far west edge of the metro, and its public-transit picture is modest. Here is the honest version: what actually serves Waukee today, how to ride it, and the realistic car-free ways to get around town and into Des Moines.
The City of Waukee lists two public-transit options. HIRTA (Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency) provides door-to-door demand-response rides for Waukee residents, scheduled in advance. DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit) reaches the area only through Express Route 92, a weekday commuter run between 156th Street in Clive, just east of Waukee, and downtown Des Moines. There is no fixed-route DART bus circulating inside Waukee itself. Confirm current details at ridehirta.com and ridedart.com.
The main option inside Waukee is HIRTA, the Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency, which is the public transit provider for Dallas County and the rural counties around Des Moines. Rather than a fixed route, HIRTA runs door-to-door, curb-to-curb service that you schedule ahead, typically at least one day in advance. You book a ride to where you need to go, and it picks you up at your address. To arrange a trip, call 1-877-686-0029 or use the HIRTA website. Riders age 60 and older ride on a donation basis. This is the realistic transit backbone for Waukee residents who do not drive, and it is how many seniors and medical-appointment trips get made.
The nearest fixed-route bus is DART Express Route 92, aimed at downtown Des Moines commuters. It runs between 156th Street in Clive, just east of Waukee on Hickman Road, and downtown Des Moines. Because that boarding point sits at Waukee's east edge rather than in the middle of town, most riders drive or get dropped at the Clive park-and-ride first, then take the bus in. DART rebuilt its network in a June 2026 redesign ("Reimagine DART") and has been adding new microtransit zones across the metro, so it is worth checking ridedart.com for the current Route 92 schedule and whether any On Demand zone has been extended toward the west metro.
Between HIRTA rides and the trail network, car-free days are doable but take planning. Waukee sits on the Raccoon River Valley Trail, one of the longest paved trails in the state, which connects the downtown Waukee Triangle out toward Adel, Dallas Center, and beyond, and links into the wider metro trail system for biking and walking. Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) operates in the west metro as well. For everyday errands, though, Waukee is still built around the car. See our trails guide and Waukee to Des Moines commute guide for the fuller picture.
Honestly, Waukee is a car-first suburb. The most walkable pockets are the historic downtown Waukee Triangle and the new Kettlestone Central district, where shops, restaurants, and housing are being built close together on purpose. Elsewhere, most trips assume a vehicle, with HIRTA filling gaps for those who need it. If car-free living is a priority, weigh that carefully. Our moving to Waukee guide has the fuller picture.
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Yes, but it is limited. The City lists two options: HIRTA door-to-door rides for residents (scheduled ahead), and DART Express Route 92 for commuters, which boards at 156th Street in Clive just east of Waukee. No fixed-route DART bus runs inside Waukee itself.
HIRTA (Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency) is the transit provider for Dallas County. It offers door-to-door rides scheduled at least a day ahead. Book by calling 1-877-686-0029 or through ridehirta.com. Riders 60 and older ride on a donation basis.
The nearest fixed route is DART Express Route 92, between 156th Street in Clive (just east of Waukee) and downtown Des Moines for weekday commuters. You reach the Clive stop first. HIRTA can also arrange door-to-door trips. Check ridedart.com and ridehirta.com for current schedules.
Between HIRTA rides, rideshare, and the Raccoon River Valley Trail, car-free days are doable but take planning. The trail connects the downtown Triangle out toward Adel and links into the wider metro trail system for biking and walking. For everyday errands, though, Waukee is still built around the car.
Mostly it is car-oriented. The downtown Waukee Triangle and the new Kettlestone Central district are the walkable pockets; elsewhere you will want a car. The Raccoon River Valley Trail adds strong biking and walking options.