Origin
Fairfield, IA
Morning in Fairfield on Sunday
Local time
9:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield, IA to Iowa City, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
71.2 mi
115 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
7 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, IA
Daniel Dorfer
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling between Fairfield and Iowa City is a straightforward 71.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 29 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the round trip, making it an affordable regional connection within the Midwest. Navigating through local roads like East Burlington Avenue and US 34 before connecting to the Avenue of the Saints provides a clear path between these two Iowa hubs. Whether you are heading north for business or a change of scenery, the simplicity of the route ensures you spend less time behind the wheel and more time at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 42.6 mi | 49m |
| US 34 | 19.6 mi | 22m |
| East Burlington Avenue | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Old US Highway 218 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| South Gilbert Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Riverside Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Old Highway 218 South | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 42.6 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, IA and Iowa City, 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
43 mi
·
49 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward Airport
10
Continue on Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
11
Continue on Old Highway 218 South
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Highway 218 South
12
Continue on South Riverside Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Riverside Drive
13
Turn right onto US 6
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 6 East
14
Turn left onto South Gilbert Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Gilbert Street
15
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.6 miles from Fairfield, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 23.2 — 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
|
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
4
23.2 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
US 218 Business / Old US Highway 218
Turn left onto US 218 Business / Old US Highway 218
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.13 one way
$22.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.22 | $24.44 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.70 | $27.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.72 | $31.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
| Efficient EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.5 | 0 | $9.97 | $4.56 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Iowa City, IA
Morning in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
9:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Crawfordsville, IA
36 mi in
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
22 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
1h 29m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition through different road types on this 71.2-mile trek. With a highway share of 31%, the route balances local navigation with faster transit stretches. The most significant portion of your time on the road will be spent on the Avenue of the Saints, which features a 42.6-mile stretch that serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of the trip. You will notice the drive’s personality shift from the surface streets of Fairfield to the more consistent pace of the regional highway. Staying alert is key during this transition, as the road character changes from slower-paced local avenues to higher-speed highway travel.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.6 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North B Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 29m drive. You will face about 10 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
775 ft
698 ft
Total Climb
0 ft
Total Descent
77 ft
Highest Point
775 ft
~5.1 mi in
Elevation Range
77 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fairfield, IA to Iowa City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Airport
66.9 mi in
|
~1h 20m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 71.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.6 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Iowa City, IA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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