Origin
Fairfield, IA
Afternoon in Fairfield on Monday
Local time
4:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield, IA to Waukee, IA
Drive Time
2h 37m
Distance
130 mi
209 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 27m
★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 42m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, IA
Daniel Dorfer
Waukee, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Fairfield, IA to Waukee, IA covers 130 miles and takes about 2h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 34, A Avenue West, State Highway 5 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.5 miles on US 34. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.75 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
65 miles from Fairfield, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Fairfield, IA to Waukee, IA covers 130 miles and takes about 2h 37m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 34 is the longest continuous segment at about 32.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near US 34 Business.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 130 miles you will encounter 14 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 3.1 miles (US 34 Business): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 104.9 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 34 Business
Take the ramp onto US 34 Business toward US 34, IA 163 West: Ottumwa
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 34, IA 163 West: Ottumwa
5
52.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville
5
104.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m in
|
US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
117.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
6
123.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 26m in
Take the exit toward US 6
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 6
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Fairfield, IA to Waukee, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Knoxville along the way.
Knoxville
52.7 mi in
|
~1h 3m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 34 | 32.5 mi | 37m |
| A Avenue West | 32.4 mi | 36m |
| State Highway 5 | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| US 63 | 16.7 mi | 19m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Hickman Road | 5.7 mi | 9m |
| I 35 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| West Burlington Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
US 34
— 32.5 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, IA and Waukee, IA.
1
Start on East Briggs Avenue
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Briggs Avenue
2
Turn left onto IA 1
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
North 2nd Street
3
Turn right onto US 34 Business
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Burlington Avenue
4
Continue on US 34 Business
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Old US 34
5
Take the ramp onto US 34 Business
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 34 Business
Toward US 34, IA 163 West: Ottumwa
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
32 mi
·
37 min
·
US 34; IA 163
7
Continue on US 63; IA 163
17 mi
·
19 min
·
US 63; IA 163
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville
9
Turn left onto IA 92
32 mi
·
36 min
·
A Avenue West
10
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
11
Continue on IA 5
19 mi
·
22 min
·
State Highway 5
12
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
14
Merge onto I 35
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward US 6
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto US 6
5.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Hickman Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn left onto CR R22
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
6th Street
18
Turn left onto Ashworth Drive
139 ft
·
4 sec
·
Ashworth Drive
19
Arrive at destination
Ashworth Drive
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 65 miles from Fairfield, IA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.5 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 65 miles or 1h 18m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waukee, 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 130 miles and 2h 37m.
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 US 34 for about 32.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65 mi from Fairfield, IA · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 65 miles from Fairfield, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waukee, IA
The final approach into Waukee, 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 Waukee, 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
$19.75 one way
$39.49 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $21.77 | $43.53 |
| premium | $4.80 | $24.54 | $49.08 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $28.88 | $57.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39 | 0 | $13.65 | $6.24 |
| Efficient EV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.38 | $5.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52 | 0 | $18.20 | $8.32 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Waukee, IA
Afternoon in Waukee on Monday
Local time
4:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
44°F
Indiana, IA
65 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
7 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 37m 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 Waukee, IA covers 130 miles and takes about 2h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 34, A Avenue West, State Highway 5. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 65 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 $19.75 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 130 miles you will encounter 14 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 3.1 miles (US 34 Business): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 104.9 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Fairfield, IA to Waukee, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Knoxville along the way.
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