This 284.9-mile drive from Bedford to Davenport, Iowa, will take you approximately 5 hours and 37 minutes, making it a feasible one-day trip. The route primarily utilizes I-80 and I-35, with a portion on State Highway 2, ensuring a predominantly highway-focused experience. With a projected fuel cost of around $45, this journey across the heart of the Midwest is efficient and straightforward. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so be prepared for that kind of travel. It’s a solid choice if you're looking for a direct route 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
142.5 miles from Bedford, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
152.3 mi
2h 44m
I 35
73.1 mi
1h 19m
State Highway 2
48.7 mi
1h 11m
West Kimberly Road
3 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
US 6
1.5 mi
2m
West Locust Street
0.9 mi
2m
Harrison Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 152.3 mi, about 2h 44m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,166 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,588
Quietest
2 AM
~205 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.6×
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 Bedford, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on IA 148
0.1 mi·13 sec·Madison Street
2
Turn right onto Pearl Street
0.4 mi·46 sec·Pearl Street
3
Keep slight left at fork onto CR N44
0.1 mi·13 sec·Pearl Street
4
Continue on CR N44
0.4 mi·40 sec·County Road N44
5
Turn right onto IA 2
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 2
6
Continue on IA 2
2.5 mi·3 min·State Highway 2
7
Continue on IA 2
34 mi·49 min·State Highway 2
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
9
Merge onto I 35
73 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
152 mi·2 hr 44 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
11
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
12
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
13
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
14
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
15
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi·2 min·West Locust Street
16
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Gaines Street
17
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 14th Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Harrison Street
19
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
20
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour and 37-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 152.3-mile stretch on I-80, as services can be spread out. The $45 fuel cost is an estimate, so factor in your vehicle's MPG. Given it’s a one-day trip, you can afford to be flexible with your timing. A good tip is to download offline maps, as cell service can be spotty in some rural stretches between major towns.
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 142.5 miles from Bedford, IA, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152.3 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 63 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.5 miles or 2h 55m 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 33m
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 Bedford, 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 Bedford, IA
This is one driving day of about 284.9 miles and 5h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Bedford, 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 152.3 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 50.1 and 283.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
50.1 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
123.2 mi into trip|~2h 34m 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
275.6 mi into trip|~5h 19m 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
276.7 mi into trip|~5h 21m 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
283.9 mi into trip|~5h 34m in|West 14th Street
Turn left onto West 14th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.07 one way
$84.15 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$46.45
$92.90
premium
$4.72
$52.90
$105.79
diesel
$4.80
$53.79
$107.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.5
1
$29.91
$13.68
Efficient EV
71.2
0
$24.93
$11.40
EV Truck/SUV
114
1
$39.89
$18.23
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Bedford, IA
Late night
in Bedford on Sunday
Local time
1:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Clear
SSW 7 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:32PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:31AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Davenport, IA
Late night
in Davenport on Sunday
Local time
1:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:32PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:31AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
89°F
Colfax, IA
142 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
3 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
5h 37m 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 highway-centric experience, with 97% of the drive on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 152.3 miles on I-80, so plan your breaks accordingly. While the majority of the route is on high-speed interstates, there's a brief segment on State Highway 2 that offers a slight change of pace. This drive is characterized by its efficiency, allowing you to cover significant ground smoothly. It's less about winding scenic byways and more about covering distance effectively.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 152.3 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 50.1 miles in near I 35.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 37m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 50.1 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 123.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 275.6 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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...
The longest stretch is about 152.3 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 36 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 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 50.1 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 123.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 275.6 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 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.
