Belmond, IA to Davenport, IA is 229.6 miles and takes about 4h 34m via US 20 and I-80, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the heart of the Midwest. Expect a straightforward drive that prioritizes efficiency, making it a solid choice for a single-day journey. With a relatively short duration and reasonable fuel costs, this route offers a convenient way to get from point A to point B without extensive planning.
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
114.8 miles from Belmond, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
75.4 mi
1h 27m
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi
1h 11m
I 80
49.7 mi
54m
US 69
19.7 mi
26m
River Avenue South
8.8 mi
12m
West Kimberly Road
3 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
US 6
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 75.4 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belmond, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue Northeast
61 ft·4 sec·2nd Avenue Northeast
2
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.1 mi·37 sec·East Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 69
8.8 mi·12 min·River Avenue South
4
Turn left onto US 69
20 mi·26 min·US 69
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward US 20 East
6
Merge onto US 20
75 mi·1 hr 27 min·US 20
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
65 mi·1 hr 11 min·Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
10
Merge onto I 80
50 mi·54 min·I 80
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
Given the 4.5-hour drive time, departing in the morning is ideal to ensure you arrive with plenty of daylight remaining. You'll want to plan for one main stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 75.4-mile stretch on US 20, as services might be less frequent than on I-80. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time slightly if needed, but a prompt start will make for a relaxed journey.
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 114.8 miles from Belmond, IA, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.4 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 51 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.8 miles or 2h 19m 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 41m
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 Belmond, 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 Belmond, IA
This is one driving day of about 229.6 miles and 4h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Belmond, 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 US 20 for about 75.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 220.3 — 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|East Main Street
Turn right onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
28.6 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
6
104.4 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
169.4 mi into trip|~3h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
5
220.3 mi into trip|~4h 16m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.90 one way
$71.79 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$39.41
$78.82
premium
$4.89
$44.18
$88.37
diesel
$5.61
$50.69
$101.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.9
0
$24.11
$11.02
Efficient EV
57.4
0
$20.09
$9.18
EV Truck/SUV
91.8
1
$32.14
$14.69
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 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
Belmond, IA
Night
in Belmond on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Davenport, IA
Night
in Davenport on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
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
24 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 34m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 64% of the journey on major roadways like US 20 and I-80. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 75.4 miles on US 20, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. While the majority of the route is on established highways, the initial portion on US 20 might feel a bit more varied before merging onto the faster interstate. Overall, anticipate a driving experience that’s efficient and predictable, with minimal deviations from the main roads.
64% 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: 75.4 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Avenue of the Saints. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 229.6 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 104.4 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 34m. Total distance: 229.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.4 miles on US 20. 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.
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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 104.4 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Davenport, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
