This 254.7-mile drive from Audubon to Davenport, Iowa, is a manageable one-day adventure, taking approximately 4 hours and 50 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-80, with segments on US 6 and Highway 71, it's a highway-focused journey across the Midwest. With a fuel cost estimated around $40, it's an economical option for a quick trip. This route is well-suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. Expect a straightforward drive that efficiently connects these two Iowa communities.
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
127.3 miles from Audubon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
166.8 mi
3h 1m
US 6
63.6 mi
1h 10m
Highway 71
14.3 mi
19m
West Kimberly Road
3 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
Lincoln Street
1 mi
1m
West Locust Street
0.9 mi
2m
Harrison Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 166.8 mi, about 3h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Audubon, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on US 71
0.6 mi·1 min·South Market Street
2
Continue on US 71
12 mi·16 min·Highway 71
3
Continue on US 71
1.0 mi·1 min·Lincoln Street
4
Continue on US 71
2.5 mi·3 min·Highway 71
5
Continue on US 71
0.6 mi·55 sec·650th Street
6
Turn left onto US 6
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·US 6
7
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.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
152 mi·2 hr 44 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
9
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
10
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
11
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
12
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
13
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi·2 min·West Locust Street
14
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Gaines Street
15
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 14th Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Harrison Street
17
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
18
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 50-minute duration, departing in the morning is your best bet for completing this 254.7-mile trip comfortably within a single day. You'll have one main stretch of 166.8 miles on I-80, so planning a single fuel and rest stop around the halfway point would be efficient. With a fuel cost estimate of $40, keep an eye on your gauge, especially before embarking on that longer interstate segment. This route offers flexibility, so you can adapt your stop schedule as needed.
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 127.3 miles from Audubon, IA, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 166.8 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 56 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.3 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 52m
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 Audubon, 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 Audubon, IA
This is one driving day of about 254.7 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Audubon, 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 I 80 for about 166.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 78.6 and 253.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
78.6 mi into trip|~1h 30m 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
93 mi into trip|~1h 47m 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.
5
245.3 mi into trip|~4h 32m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock...
5
246.5 mi into trip|~4h 34m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, W...
5
253.6 mi into trip|~4h 47m in|West 14th Street
Turn left onto West 14th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.82 one way
$79.64 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$43.72
$87.44
premium
$4.89
$49.01
$98.03
diesel
$5.61
$56.23
$112.47
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: 89.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.4
0
$26.74
$12.23
Efficient EV
63.7
0
$22.29
$10.19
EV Truck/SUV
101.9
1
$35.66
$16.30
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Audubon, IA
Night
in Audubon on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Davenport, IA
Night
in Davenport on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Newton, IA
127 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
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
4h 50m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 96% of this route on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 166.8 miles along I-80, offering a consistent pace for much of your journey. While the majority is interstate, brief transitions onto US 6 and Highway 71 provide slight variations in scenery and road type. This drive offers a straightforward, efficient passage, allowing you to cover ground steadily without significant deviations.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 166.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 6. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 78.6 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 50m 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 78.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 245.3 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Audubon, IA and Davenport, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
Minneapolis
78.6 mi in|~1h 30m|via I 80
Kansas City
78.6 mi in|~1h 30m|via I 80
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 50m. Total distance: 254.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 166.8 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 78.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 245.3 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Davenport, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
