The drive from Ames, IA to Fairfield, IA covers 142.6 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East University Avenue, I 35, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 100.3 miles on East University Avenue.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.29 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
71.3 miles from Ames, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 142.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 51m drive with frequent turns across 142.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East University Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 100.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 35.
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 142.6 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 2.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
28.4 mi into trip|~34m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
5
28.6 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Davenport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 137A
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
8
32 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
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 141
Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
6
36.5 mi into trip|~45m in
Take the exit toward IA 163: East University Avenue, Pleasant Hill
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 79
Toward IA 163: East University Avenue, Pleasant...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ames, IA and Fairfield, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines and Pleasant Hill.
Council Bluffs
28.4 mi in|~34m|via I 35
Davenport
28.4 mi in|~34m|via I 35
Des Moines
32 mi in|~39m
Pleasant Hill
36.5 mi in|~45m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East University Avenue
100.3 mi
1h 56m
I 35
25.9 mi
28m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
3.8 mi
4m
I 80
2.6 mi
2m
13th Street
2.4 mi
5m
West Burlington Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
Northeast University Avenue
1.8 mi
2m
Old US 34
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
East University Avenue
— 100.3 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ames, IA and Fairfield, IA.
1
Start on I 35 Business
2.4 mi·5 min·13th Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
3
Merge onto I 35
26 mi·28 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
0.2 mi·12 sec·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
5
Take the exit
0.8 mi·2 min
Exit 137AToward I 80 East: Davenport
6
Merge onto I 80
2.6 mi·2 min·I 80
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 141Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des MoinesUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 65
3.8 mi·4 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 79Toward IA 163: East University Avenue, Pleasant Hill
10
Turn left onto IA 163
3.3 mi·4 min·East University Avenue
11
Continue on IA 163
1.8 mi·2 min·Northeast University Avenue
12
Continue on IA 163
97 mi·1 hr 51 min·East University Avenue
13
Take the exit onto US 34 Business
0.4 mi·53 sec·US 34 Business
Exit 210Toward US 34 Business: Convention Center
14
Turn left onto US 34 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·Old US 34
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 34 Business
1.9 mi·3 min·West Burlington Avenue
16
Turn left onto IA 1
0.1 mi·16 sec·North 2nd Street
17
Turn right onto West Briggs Avenue
0.1 mi·29 sec·West Briggs Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
East Briggs Avenue
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 71.3 miles from Ames, IA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.3 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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.3 miles or 1h 26m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairfield, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ames, 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 Ames, IA
This is one driving day of about 142.6 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Ames, 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 East University Avenue for about 100.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71.3 mi from Ames, IA
· 1h 26m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.8
0
$14.97
$6.84
Efficient EV
35.7
0
$12.48
$5.70
EV Truck/SUV
57
0
$19.96
$9.13
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ames, IA
Night
in Ames on Thursday
Local time
11:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fairfield, IA
Night
in Fairfield on Thursday
Local time
11:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Monroe, IA
71 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
19 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 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 Ames, IA to Fairfield, IA covers 142.6 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East University Avenue, I 35, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.3 miles from Ames, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.29 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 142.6 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Between Ames, IA and Fairfield, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines and Pleasant Hill.
