Origin
Fairfield, IA
Morning in Fairfield on Thursday
Local time
9:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield, IA to Sioux City, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 49m
Distance
316.5 mi
509 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 36m
★
6 AM
4h 49m
8 AM
5h 16m
10 AM
4h 59m
12 PM
4h 56m
3 PM
5h 0m
5 PM
5h 15m
8 PM
4h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, IA
Daniel Dorfer
Sioux City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Fairfield, IA to Sioux City, IA covers 316.5 miles and takes about 4h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North 2nd Street, West Burlington Avenue, US 34 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.48 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
158.2 miles from Fairfield, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 49m. Total distance: 316.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 49m drive with frequent turns across 316.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North 2nd Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 49m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fairfield, IA to Sioux City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North 2nd Street | — | — |
| West Burlington Avenue | — | — |
| US 34 | — | — |
| IA 92 | — | — |
| A Avenue West | — | — |
| Highway 5 | — | — |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | — | — |
| I-35 north | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North 2nd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on East Briggs Avenue
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Briggs Avenue
2
Turn left onto North 2nd Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
North 2nd Street
3
Turn right onto West Burlington Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Burlington Avenue
4
Continue on Old US 34
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Old US 34
5
Take the ramp right toward US 34, IA 163 West: Ottumwa
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 34, IA 163 West: Ottumwa
6
Merge slight left
32 mi
·
37 min
7
Continue straight
17 mi
·
19 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville
9
Turn left onto A Avenue West
32 mi
·
36 min
·
A Avenue West
10
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
11
Continue on State Highway 5
19 mi
·
22 min
·
State Highway 5
12
Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
13
Keep slight left to continue on I-35 north: Minneapolis
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I-35 north: Minneapolis
14
Merge slight left
4.3 mi
·
5 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 west: Council Bluffs
16
Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
John MacVicar Freeway
17
Merge slight right
95 mi
·
1 hr 41 min
18
Keep slight right to continue on I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
17 mi
·
17 min
·
I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
19
Keep slight right to continue on I 29 North: Sioux City
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 29 North: Sioux City
20
Merge slight left
75 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
21
Take the exit slight right toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
22
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Floyd Boulevard
23
Turn left onto 5th Street
397 ft
·
15 sec
·
5th Street
24
Turn right onto Iowa Street
344 ft
·
7 sec
·
Iowa Street
25
Keep slight left to continue on 6th Street
427 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
26
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Court Street
27
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
9th Street
28
Turn right
115 ft
·
9 sec
29
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 158.2 miles from Fairfield, IA, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
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 70 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.2 miles or 2h 24m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sioux City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairfield, 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 Fairfield, IA
This is one driving day of about 316.5 miles and 4h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Fairfield, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 158.2 mi from Fairfield, IA · 2h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
158 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 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 158.2 miles from Fairfield, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sioux City, IA
The final approach into Sioux City, 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 Sioux City, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.48 one way
$98.96 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
111 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $54.33 | $108.66 |
| premium | $4.89 | $60.91 | $121.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $69.88 | $139.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 95 | 1 | $33.23 | $15.19 |
| Efficient EV | 79.1 | 0 | $27.69 | $12.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 126.6 | 1 | $44.31 | $20.26 |
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Sioux City, IA
Morning in Sioux City on Thursday
Local time
9:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
2 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
4h 49m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Fairfield, IA to Sioux City, IA covers 316.5 miles and takes about 4h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North 2nd Street, West Burlington Avenue, US 34. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 158.2 miles from Fairfield, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.48 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 49m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fairfield, IA to Sioux City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fairfield, IA to Sioux City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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