This 119.9-mile drive from Fairfield, IA to Ankeny, IA is a straightforward Midwest journey, easily manageable as a single-day trip with a duration of about 2 hours and 25 minutes. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $18, making it an economical choice. You'll primarily be on US 63 and US 34 before merging onto I-35, offering a highway-focused experience. With no designated stops in the data, this trip is ideal for those who prefer to set their own pace and decide on breaks as needed. It's a practical route for getting between these two Iowa locations without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.9 miles from Fairfield, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 63
69.4 mi
1h 20m
US 34
32.5 mi
37m
I 35
4.7 mi
5m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
3.8 mi
4m
West Burlington Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
East 1st Street
1.5 mi
3m
Old US 34
1 mi
1m
I 80
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 69.4 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, IA and Ankeny, 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: OttumwaUse 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
69 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 63; IA 163
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
9
Merge onto US 65
3.8 mi·4 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
10
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 84Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
11
Merge onto I 80
0.9 mi·1 min·I 80
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 137BToward I-35 north: MinneapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·42 sec·this road
Exit 137BToward I-35 north: Minneapolis
14
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·52 sec·this road
Exit 137BToward I-35 North: Minneapolis
15
Merge onto I 35
4.7 mi·5 min·I 35
Toward I 35 North: MinneapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward 1st Street
17
Keep slight left at fork
256 ft·8 sec
Toward High Trestle TrailUse the left lane.
18
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.5 mi·3 min·East 1st Street
19
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
20
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·2 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
21
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour 25-minute duration and 119.9-mile distance, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. You can depart anytime that suits your schedule, but an early start will allow for a relaxed arrival in Ankeny. With no mandated stops, you have the flexibility to pull over when you need a break or a fuel top-up; the estimated fuel cost is $18. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 69.4-mile stretch on US 63, to ensure you don't need to backtrack for gas. This route is primarily highway, so planning for rest stops on major exits will be straightforward.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 59.9 miles from Fairfield, IA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.4 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 26 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.9 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ankeny, 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 119.9 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Fairfield, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 63 for about 69.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 118.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
109.7 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
7
111.7 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
6
113.1 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35 toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
8
118.1 mi into trip|~2h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward High Trestle Trail
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward High Trestle Trail
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.74 one way
$37.49 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.58
$41.16
premium
$4.89
$23.07
$46.15
diesel
$5.61
$26.47
$52.94
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 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
0
$12.59
$5.76
Efficient EV
30
0
$10.49
$4.80
EV Truck/SUV
48
0
$16.79
$7.67
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Fairfield, IA
Late night
in Fairfield on Sunday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Late night
in Ankeny on Sunday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
19 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 25m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for 91% of this 119.9-mile journey, with the longest continuous stretch covering 69.4 miles on US 63. This means you'll encounter a good amount of open road and relatively consistent speeds for much of the trip. While the data doesn't specify particular scenic elements, the focus on major highways suggests a route designed for efficient travel rather than winding country lanes. The transition between US 63, US 34, and finally I-35 will likely involve changes in road design and traffic flow as you move towards the more urbanized area around Ankeny.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.4 mi on US 63.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 63 and US 34. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near US 34 Business.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 119.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 109.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 111.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
993 ft705 ft
Total Climb
544 ft
Total Descent
329 ft
Highest Point
993 ft
~119.9 mi in
Elevation Range
288 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 119.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.4 miles on US 63. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Ankeny, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 109.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 111.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ankeny, IA before heading back.
