Origin
Des Moines, IA
Evening in Des Moines on Thursday
Local time
5:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Moines, IA to Fairfield, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 17m
Distance
111.6 mi
180 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 8m
★
6 AM
2h 18m
8 AM
2h 37m
10 AM
2h 25m
12 PM
2h 23m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 36m
8 PM
2h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Fairfield, IA
Daniel Dorfer
Trip Overview
The drive from Des Moines, IA to Fairfield, IA covers 111.6 miles and takes about 2h 17m 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, West Burlington Avenue, Northeast University Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 106.1 miles on East University Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.45 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.
Midpoint
55.8 miles from Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 111.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 17m drive with frequent turns across 111.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 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 106.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East University Avenue.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Des Moines, IA to Fairfield, IA is easy. At 2h 17m with 1% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 107.9 miles (US 34 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 108.3 miles (US 34 Business / Old US 34): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East University Avenue
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
107.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 10m in
|
US 34 Business
Take the exit onto US 34 Business toward US 34 Business: Convention Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 210
Toward US 34 Business: Convention Center
5
108.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m in
|
US 34 Business / Old US 34
Turn left onto US 34 Business / Old US 34
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
111.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m in
|
IA 1 / North 2nd Street
Turn left onto IA 1 / North 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
4
111.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m in
|
West Briggs Avenue
Turn right onto West Briggs Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East University Avenue | 106.1 mi | 2h 8m |
| West Burlington Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Northeast University Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Old US 34 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| US 34 Business | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North 2nd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Briggs Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Briggs Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East University Avenue
— 106.1 mi, about 2h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Fairfield, IA.
1
Start on East University Avenue
481 ft
·
39 sec
·
East University Avenue
2
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
9.1 mi
·
16 min
·
East University Avenue
3
Continue on IA 163
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Northeast University Avenue
4
Continue on IA 163
97 mi
·
1 hr 51 min
·
East University Avenue
5
Take the exit onto US 34 Business
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
US 34 Business
Exit 210
Toward US 34 Business: Convention Center
6
Turn left onto US 34 Business
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Old US 34
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 34 Business
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Burlington Avenue
8
Turn left onto IA 1
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
North 2nd Street
9
Turn right onto West Briggs Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Briggs Avenue
10
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.8 miles from Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.1 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 25 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.8 miles or 1h 10m 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 51m
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 Des Moines, 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 Des Moines, IA
This is one driving day of about 111.6 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Des Moines, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East University Avenue for about 106.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.8 mi from Des Moines, IA · 1h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.8 miles from Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before East University Avenue if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 106.1 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Fairfield, IA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.45 one way
$34.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.16 | $38.31 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.48 | $42.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.64 | $49.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.5 | 0 | $11.72 | $5.36 |
| Efficient EV | 27.9 | 0 | $9.76 | $4.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.62 | $7.14 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Fairfield, IA
Evening in Fairfield on Thursday
Local time
5:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live 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
1 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 17m 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 Des Moines, IA to Fairfield, IA covers 111.6 miles and takes about 2h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East University Avenue, West Burlington Avenue, Northeast University Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.8 miles from Des Moines, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.45 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.
The drive from Des Moines, IA to Fairfield, IA is easy. At 2h 17m with 1% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 107.9 miles (US 34 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 108.3 miles (US 34 Business / Old US 34): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Des Moines, IA to Fairfield, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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