Spanning 103.9 miles across the Iowa landscape, this drive from Belle Plaine to Davenport is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 2 hours and 12 minutes. Because the route is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You should budget approximately $16 for fuel to complete the journey. The path primarily traverses the Midwest, keeping you within the state of Iowa for the duration of the trip. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, this direct route offers a reliable way to connect these two points without unnecessary detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52 miles from Belle Plaine, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
64.2 mi
1h 9m
IA 212
11.7 mi
17m
US 6
10.3 mi
15m
U Avenue
5.6 mi
7m
West Kimberly Road
3 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
11th Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
State Highway 21
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 64.2 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belle Plaine, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on IA 21
0.8 mi·1 min·7th Avenue
2
Continue on IA 21
1.5 mi·2 min·11th Avenue
3
Continue on IA 21
1.1 mi·1 min·State Highway 21
4
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 212
12 mi·17 min·IA 212
5
Turn right onto IA 212
0.5 mi·52 sec·Western Avenue
6
Turn left onto US 6
8.8 mi·12 min·US 6
7
Continue on US 151
5.6 mi·7 min·U Avenue
Use the right lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
9
Merge onto I 80
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 80
10
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
11
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
12
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
13
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
14
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi·2 min·West Locust Street
15
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Gaines Street
16
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 14th Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Harrison Street
18
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
19
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 2-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to depart whenever suits your plans best. With no mandatory stops required by the route, you can easily complete the entire 103.9-mile distance in one go. Keep in mind that since the majority of your time is spent on I-80, traffic patterns on the interstate will be the primary factor in your arrival time. Planning to fill your tank before you leave Belle Plaine is a smart move to keep your $16 fuel budget on track. Use the lack of scheduled stops to your advantage by packing snacks and drinks so you can head straight to Davenport without needing to pull over.
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 52 miles from Belle Plaine, IA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.2 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 23 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52 miles or 1h 7m 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 43m
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 Belle Plaine, 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 Belle Plaine, IA
This is one driving day of about 103.9 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Belle Plaine, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 64.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 102.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3.5 mi into trip|~5m in|IA 212
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 212
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
15.6 mi into trip|~23m in|US 6
Turn left onto US 6
Navigation decision point
5
94.6 mi into trip|~1h 54m 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
95.8 mi into trip|~1h 56m 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
102.9 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|West 14th Street
Turn left onto West 14th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.24 one way
$32.49 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.83
$35.67
premium
$4.89
$19.99
$39.99
diesel
$5.61
$22.94
$45.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.2
0
$10.91
$4.99
Efficient EV
26
0
$9.09
$4.16
EV Truck/SUV
41.6
0
$14.55
$6.65
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Belle Plaine, IA
Late night
in Belle Plaine on Sunday
Local time
3:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Davenport, IA
Late night
in Davenport on Sunday
Local time
3:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
23 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 12m 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?
This journey is a highway-focused drive, with 84% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a combination of IA 212, US 6, and I-80 to reach your destination. Expect a consistent pace, especially during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 64.2 miles on I-80. While the road transitions between different highway types, the experience remains focused on efficiency rather than technical, winding backroads. Being behind the wheel here is a predictable, steady experience that allows you to cover the distance quickly.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and IA 212. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in near IA 212.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 12m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles (IA 212): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 15.6 miles (US 6): Navigation decision point; at 94.6 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 Belle Plaine, IA and Davenport, IA, road signs point toward Moline and Walcott.
Moline
94.6 mi in|~1h 54m|via US 6
Walcott
95.8 mi in|~1h 56m|via US 6
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 12m. Total distance: 103.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 64.2 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 3.5 miles (IA 212): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 15.6 miles (US 6): Navigation decision point; at 94.6 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Davenport, IA before heading back.
