Fairfax, IA to Sioux City, IA is 272.2 miles and takes about 5h 24m via Avenue of the Saints and Highway 20, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you across the heart of Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a route with plenty of turns, more akin to navigating local roads than a straight interstate cruise. It's a good option for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay if you start with a full tank.
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
136.1 miles from Fairfax, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
211.4 mi
4h 1m
Highway 20
42.9 mi
53m
160th Street
6.4 mi
7m
Williams Boulevard
3 mi
4m
Williams Boulevard Southwest
2 mi
4m
United States Highway 20
1.9 mi
2m
1st Avenue West
1.2 mi
2m
Williams Blvd
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 211.4 mi, about 4h 1m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,006 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~107 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfax, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on Vanderbilt Street
443 ft·21 sec·Vanderbilt Street
2
Turn right onto Church Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·Church Street
3
Turn right onto US 151
2.7 mi·3 min·Williams Boulevard
4
Enter roundabout onto US 151
85 ft·1 sec·Williams Boulevard
5
Continue on US 151
0.3 mi·24 sec·Williams Boulevard
6
Continue on US 151 Business
1.0 mi·1 min·Williams Blvd
7
Continue on US 151 Business
2.0 mi·4 min·Williams Boulevard Southwest
8
Continue on US 151 Business
1.2 mi·2 min·1st Avenue West
9
Turn left onto 3rd Street Southwest
54 ft·1 sec·3rd Street Southwest
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 380 North, IA 27 North
11
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
51 mi·56 min·Avenue of the Saints
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
160 mi·3 hr 4 min·Avenue of the Saints
13
Continue on US 20
6.4 mi·7 min·160th Street
14
Continue on US 20
1.9 mi·2 min·United States Highway 20
15
Continue on US 20
43 mi·53 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Fairmount Street
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on 6th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·6th Street
18
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
19
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
20
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 24m estimated duration and its 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile, it's wise to start your journey in Fairfax, IA, in the morning to maximize daylight hours. While this drive is doable in one day, consider a mid-trip stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially since the longest stretch without a significant road change is 211.4 miles. The route utilizes Avenue of the Saints and Highway 20, so having these main roads in your GPS will be helpful for navigation.
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 136.1 miles from Fairfax, IA, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 211.4 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 60 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.1 miles or 2h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 20m
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 Fairfax, 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 Fairfax, IA
This is one driving day of about 272.2 miles and 5h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Fairfax, 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 211.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 272.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Church Street
Turn right onto Church Street
Navigation decision point
5
7.4 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the ramp toward I 380 North, IA 27 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 North, IA 27 North
6
270.3 mi into trip|~5h 19m in|South Fairmount Street
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
272 mi into trip|~5h 23m in|9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
272.2 mi into trip|~5h 24m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.20 one way
$80.40 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$44.38
$88.75
premium
$4.72
$50.54
$101.08
diesel
$4.80
$51.40
$102.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.7
1
$28.58
$13.07
Efficient EV
68.1
0
$23.82
$10.89
EV Truck/SUV
108.9
1
$38.11
$17.42
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Fairfax, IA
Evening
in Fairfax on Monday
Local time
6:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Evening
in Sioux City on Monday
Local time
6:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Clear
S 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
69°F
Hampton, IA
136 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
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
5h 24m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting you'll encounter frequent changes in direction rather than long, straightaways. With only a 16% highway share, most of your time will be spent on local roads, making for a more engaging driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 211.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints, so while there are turns, there are also periods of sustained driving. Be prepared for a varied landscape and road conditions as you transition between these local routes.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 211.4 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 Church Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 24m drive. You will face about 11 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 (Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 270.3 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Sioux City is on the western edge of the state of Iowa. It is on the Missouri River and many parts of Sioux City are among the unique Loess Hills formations.
Top landmarks
•Sergeant Floyd — museum boat in Sioux City, Iowa, United States
•Woodbury County Courthouse — county courthouse in Sioux City, United States of America
•St. Boniface Catholic Church — church building in Sioux City, United States of America
The longest stretch is about 211.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 270.3 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sioux City, IA before the return drive.
