Origin
Fairfield, IA
Late night in Fairfield on Wednesday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield, IA to Waterloo, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 54m
Distance
149.1 mi
240 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 43m
★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 16m
10 AM
3h 2m
12 PM
3h 0m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, IA
Daniel Dorfer
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Fairfield, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 149.1 miles and takes about 2h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, US 34, I 380 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 121.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.31 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
74.6 miles from Fairfield, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 54m drive with frequent turns across 149.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 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 121.4 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North B Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 54m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North B Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 34 Business / East Burlington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (US 34 Business): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 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
|
North B Street
Turn right onto North B Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 34 Business / East Burlington Avenue
Turn left onto US 34 Business / East Burlington Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 34 Business
Take the ramp onto US 34 Business toward US 34, IA 163 East: Burlington
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 34, IA 163 East: Burlington
4
22.8 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 234
6
145.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
|
I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 121.4 mi | 2h 17m |
| US 34 | 19.6 mi | 22m |
| I 380 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| East Burlington Avenue | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Old US Highway 218 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Washington Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| US 34 Business | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North B Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 121.4 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on East Briggs Avenue
415 ft
·
22 sec
·
East Briggs Avenue
2
Turn right onto North B Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
North B Street
3
Turn left onto US 34 Business
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
East Burlington Avenue
4
Take the ramp onto US 34 Business
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
US 34 Business
Toward US 34, IA 163 East: Burlington
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
20 mi
·
22 min
·
US 34; IA 163
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 234
7
Turn left onto US 218 Business
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Old US Highway 218
8
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
121 mi
·
2 hr 17 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
10
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
11
Turn left onto West 4th Street
398 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 4th Street
12
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
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 74.6 miles from Fairfield, IA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.4 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.6 miles or 1h 27m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterloo, 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 149.1 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 121.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74.6 mi from Fairfield, IA · 1h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.6 miles from Fairfield, 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 121.4 miles.
Arriving in Waterloo, IA
The final approach into Waterloo, 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 Waterloo, 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
$23.31 one way
$46.62 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.59 | $51.19 |
| premium | $4.89 | $28.69 | $57.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.92 | $65.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.7 | 0 | $15.66 | $7.16 |
| Efficient EV | 37.3 | 0 | $13.05 | $5.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.6 | 0 | $20.87 | $9.54 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Waterloo, IA
Late night in Waterloo on Wednesday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
18 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
2h 54m 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 Fairfield, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 149.1 miles and takes about 2h 54m 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, I 380. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.6 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 $23.31 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 is a straightforward 2h 54m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North B Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 34 Business / East Burlington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (US 34 Business): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Fairfield, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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