Origin
Cedar Rapids, IA
Afternoon in Cedar Rapids on Thursday
Local time
12:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Rapids, IA to Fairfield, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 57m
Distance
98 mi
158 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 49m
★
6 AM
1h 58m
8 AM
2h 15m
10 AM
2h 4m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 5m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, IA
Daniel Dorfer
Trip Overview
This 98-mile drive from Cedar Rapids to Fairfield, Iowa, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just under 2 hours to complete. You'll primarily navigate via Avenue of the Saints and US 34, with a portion on East Burlington Avenue. With a projected fuel cost of around $15, this is an economical journey. The route offers a relaxed pace, making it ideal for a spontaneous outing or a leisurely exploration of the Midwest. Given its relatively short distance and straightforward path, no overnight stop is necessary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 98 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (21%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this 98-mile route. Only about 21% of the journey is on the highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on more local roads. The longest stretch without a significant turn is a 72.6-mile segment on Avenue of the Saints, offering some uninterrupted driving. As you travel from Cedar Rapids to Fairfield, the road character will shift from more arterial city routes to the generally more open feel of county and state highways in rural Iowa.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 72.6 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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lindale Avenue Northeast.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 98 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (Lindale Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 74.4 miles (US 218 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Lindale Avenue Northeast
At end of road, turn right onto Lindale Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
74.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
US 218 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218 Business
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 45
5
94.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
|
US 34 Business
Take the exit onto US 34 Business toward US 34 Business West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 214
Toward US 34 Business West
5
97.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
|
East Briggs Avenue
Turn left onto East Briggs Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 72.6 mi | 1h 23m |
| US 34 | 19.4 mi | 22m |
| East Burlington Avenue | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| 29th Street Northeast | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| US 34 Business | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| US 218 Business | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North B Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Lindale Avenue Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 72.6 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Rapids, IA and Fairfield, IA.
1
Start on Tiperary Drive Northeast
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
Tiperary Drive Northeast
2
Continue on Tiffany Drive Northeast
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Tiffany Drive Northeast
3
At end of road, turn right onto Lindale Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Lindale Avenue Northeast
4
Turn right onto 29th Street Northeast
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
29th Street Northeast
5
Continue on Coldstream Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Coldstream Avenue Northeast
6
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
7
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
73 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218 Business
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
US 218 Business
Exit 45
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
10
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
19 mi
·
22 min
·
US 34; IA 163
11
Take the exit onto US 34 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 34 Business
Exit 214
Toward US 34 Business West
12
Turn right onto US 34 Business
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East Burlington Avenue
13
Turn right onto North B Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
North B Street
14
Turn left onto East Briggs Avenue
415 ft
·
20 sec
·
East Briggs Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
East Briggs Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, sub-2-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Cedar Rapids mid-morning should get you to Fairfield with ample time for afternoon activities. With only 98 miles, you likely won't need many stops, but plan for a quick break around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye out for the transition from the Avenue of the Saints onto US 34, as this is a key junction. The estimated fuel cost of $15 makes this an affordable trip, so you can focus on enjoying the drive.
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 49 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.6 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 22 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49 miles or 58m 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 34m
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 Cedar Rapids, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cedar Rapids, IA
This is one driving day of about 98 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 72.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49 mi from Cedar Rapids, IA · 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.6 miles.
Arriving in Fairfield, IA
The final approach into Fairfield, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.32 one way
$30.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.82 | $33.64 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.86 | $37.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.64 | $43.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.29 | $4.70 |
| Efficient EV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.58 | $3.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.72 | $6.27 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Fairfield, IA
Afternoon in Fairfield on Thursday
Local time
12:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Riverside, IA
49 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
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
1h 57m 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 Cedar Rapids, IA to Fairfield, IA covers 98 miles and takes about 1h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, US 34, East Burlington Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49 miles from Cedar Rapids, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.32 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 98 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (Lindale Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 74.4 miles (US 218 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Cedar Rapids, IA to Fairfield, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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