Origin
Marshalltown, IA
Morning in Marshalltown on Thursday
Local time
11:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marshalltown, IA to Fairfield, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 38m
Distance
120.2 mi
193 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 28m
★
6 AM
2h 39m
8 AM
3h 0m
10 AM
2h 46m
12 PM
2h 44m
3 PM
2h 47m
5 PM
2h 59m
8 PM
2h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marshalltown, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Fairfield, IA
Daniel Dorfer
Trip Overview
The drive from Marshalltown, IA to Fairfield, IA covers 120.2 miles and takes about 2h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Anson Street, South Center Street, Reed Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.79 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
60.1 miles from Marshalltown, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 120.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m 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 2h 38m drive with frequent turns across 120.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Anson 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Marshalltown, IA to Fairfield, IA is easy. At 2h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Marshalltown, IA to Fairfield, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Anson Street | — | — |
| South Center Street | — | — |
| Reed Avenue | — | — |
| North Main Street | — | — |
| Highway 14 | — | — |
| Highway 224 East | — | — |
| Highway 224 North | — | — |
| East Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Anson Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marshalltown, IA and Fairfield, IA.
1
Start on North 3rd Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North 3rd Avenue
2
Turn right onto East Anson Street
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Anson Street
3
Turn left onto South Center Street
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
South Center Street
4
Continue on Reed Avenue
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Reed Avenue
5
Continue on North Main Street
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Main Street
6
Continue on Reed Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Reed Avenue
7
Continue on State Highway 14
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 14
8
Turn left onto State Highway 224 East
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 224 East
9
Continue on State Highway 224 North
7.0 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 224 North
10
Continue on East Street
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Street
11
Continue on State Highway 224 North
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 224 North
12
Continue on Highway T22 South
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Highway T22 South
13
Continue on Highway T22 South
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway T22 South
14
Turn right onto Highway F62 East
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway F62 East
15
At the end of the road, turn left onto Highway T14 South
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Highway T14 South
16
Continue on Main Street
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
17
Continue on Oskaloosa Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Oskaloosa Street
18
Turn right onto Clark Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Clark Street
19
Take the ramp left
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
20
Merge slight left
64 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
21
Take the exit slight right toward US 34 Business: Convention Center
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
US 34 Business: Convention Center
22
Turn left onto Old US 34
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Old US 34
23
Continue on West Burlington Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Burlington Avenue
24
Turn left onto North 2nd Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
North 2nd Street
25
Turn right onto West Briggs Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Briggs Avenue
26
Arrive at your destination
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 60.1 miles from Marshalltown, IA, or about 1h 19m 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 26 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.1 miles or 1h 19m 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 10m
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 Marshalltown, 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 Marshalltown, IA
This is one driving day of about 120.2 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Marshalltown, 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 60.1 mi from Marshalltown, IA · 1h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.1 miles from Marshalltown, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.79 one way
$37.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.63 | $41.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.13 | $46.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.54 | $53.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.1 | 0 | $12.62 | $5.77 |
| Efficient EV | 30.1 | 0 | $10.52 | $4.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.1 | 0 | $16.83 | $7.69 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Morning in Fairfield on Thursday
Local time
11:36 AM
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
17 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 38m 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 Marshalltown, IA to Fairfield, IA covers 120.2 miles and takes about 2h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Anson Street, South Center Street, Reed Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.1 miles from Marshalltown, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.79 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.
The drive from Marshalltown, IA to Fairfield, IA is easy. At 2h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Marshalltown, IA to Fairfield, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Marshalltown, IA to Fairfield, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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