This 394.2-mile drive from Akron, Iowa, to Davenport, Iowa, will take approximately 7 hours and 26 minutes of driving time. It's a solid day trip option, primarily utilizing I-80 and I-29, with a small portion on State Highway 12, keeping you on highways for 96% of the journey. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest trip is around $62. With two recommended stops, it's a manageable drive that focuses on efficient travel across the state. This route is designed for getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
197.1 miles from Akron, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
261.7 mi
4h 43m
I 29
79.4 mi
1h 25m
State Highway 12
16.2 mi
22m
I 880
16 mi
17m
State Highway 3
4.7 mi
6m
West Kimberly Road
3 mi
4m
Sioux River Road
2.8 mi
3m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 261.7 mi, about 4h 43m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,933 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,316
Quietest
2 AM
~175 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Akron, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on North 2nd Street
54 ft·4 sec·North 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Reed Street
277 ft·13 sec·Reed Street
3
Turn left onto IA 12
0.4 mi·58 sec·State Highway 12
4
Continue on IA 3; IA 12
4.7 mi·6 min·State Highway 3
5
Continue on IA 12
0.3 mi·23 sec·State Highway 12
6
Continue on IA 12
0.2 mi·17 sec·Portland Street
7
Continue on IA 12
15 mi·21 min·State Highway 12
8
Continue on IA 12
2.8 mi·3 min·Sioux River Road
9
Turn right onto IA 12
2.1 mi·4 min·Riverside Boulevard
Use the right lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 29 South
11
Merge onto I 29
79 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 29
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 71Toward I 880 East: Des Moines
13
Continue on I 880
16 mi·17 min·I 880
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·43 sec
Exit 16AToward I 80 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 80
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 80
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
152 mi·2 hr 44 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
18
Take the exit onto US 6
1.1 mi·2 min·US 6
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
19
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
20
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
21
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
22
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi·2 min·West Locust Street
23
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Gaines Street
24
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 14th Street
25
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Harrison Street
26
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
27
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour, 26-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Akron to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With two planned stops, aim to break up the 394.2 miles into roughly equal segments, perhaps around the 3-hour mark for your first break. The longest stretch on I-80 is over 260 miles, so be sure to fuel up before entering that section. Given the efficient, highway-focused nature of this route, you have flexibility to adjust your stops as needed based on your energy levels and any points of interest you might discover along the way.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 197.1 miles from Akron, IA, or about 3h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 261.7 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 87 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 197.1 miles or 3h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Davenport, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Akron, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Akron, IA
This is one driving day of about 394.2 miles and 7h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Akron, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 261.7 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 232.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Reed Street
Turn right onto Reed Street
Navigation decision point
5
24 mi into trip|~33m in|IA 12 / Riverside Boulevard
Turn right onto IA 12 / Riverside Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
122.5 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16A
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
9
218.1 mi into trip|~4h 6m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
232.6 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.54 one way
$131.08 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg138 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$71.39
$142.78
premium
$5.18
$80.44
$160.88
diesel
$5.35
$83.03
$166.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 137.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
118.3
1
$41.39
$18.92
Efficient EV
98.6
1
$34.49
$15.77
EV Truck/SUV
157.7
1
$55.19
$25.23
Gas CO2
138 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (67% 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Akron, IA
Afternoon
in Akron on Wednesday
Local time
3:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
S 15 to 20 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Davenport, IA
Afternoon
in Davenport on Wednesday
Local time
3:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
S 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
1 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
7h 26m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 experience for almost the entire 394.2 miles, with 96% of your journey on major roadways like I-80 and I-29. The character of this drive is largely dictated by the interstate, offering a consistent pace for much of the trip. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch at 261.7 miles on I-80, so be prepared for sustained driving. While primarily interstate, the inclusion of State Highway 12 offers a slight variation before you merge back onto the main arteries.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 261.7 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Reed Street.
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 17 significant decision points across 394.2 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: near the start (Reed Street): Navigation decision point; at 24 miles (IA 12 / Riverside Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 122.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,383 ft587 ft
Total Climb
533 ft
Total Descent
1,090 ft
Highest Point
1,383 ft
~169 mi in
Elevation Range
795 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Akron, IA and Davenport, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
Davenport is one of the Quad Cities, in Eastern Iowa. This Midwestern city on the bank of the Mississippi River has seen a great deal of action throughout history. Today Davenport offers visitors interesting museums, activities and culinary experiences. Being one of the Quad Cities, a side trip to another city is easily doable - just follow the color coded signs!
Top landmarks
•Sacred Heart Cathedral — cathedral church for the Catholic Diocese of Davenport
•Lock and Dam No. 15 — lock and dam on the Mississippi River between Rock Island, Illinois and Davenpor...
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 26m. Total distance: 394.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 26m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 261.7 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 53 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.
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 Davenport, 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. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 53 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Reed Street): Navigation decision point; at 24 miles (IA 12 / Riverside Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 122.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Davenport, IA before the return drive.
