Bettendorf, IA to Atlantic, IA is 252.2 miles and takes about 4h 43m via I 80 and I 74, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically crossing Iowa on its primary interstate. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused nature, it's a straightforward drive. Most travelers will find this route efficient for connecting these two points within the state.
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
126.1 miles from Bettendorf, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
235.6 mi
4h 16m
650th Street
6.5 mi
9m
I 74
4.4 mi
5m
East 7th Street
3.5 mi
6m
Kimberly Road
1 mi
2m
US 6
0.4 mi
<1m
Middle Road
0.4 mi
1m
12th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 235.6 mi, about 4h 16m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 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
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 Bettendorf, IA and Atlantic, IA.
1
Start on this road
74 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 12th Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·12th Street
3
Continue on Kimberly Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Kimberly Road
4
Turn right onto Middle Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Middle Road
5
Turn left
0.2 mi·24 sec
6
Merge onto I 74; US 6
4.4 mi·5 min·I 74; US 6
7
Merge onto I 80
173 mi·3 hr 9 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·48 sec·US 6
Toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
10
Turn left onto US 6; US 71
6.5 mi·9 min·650th Street
11
Turn right onto US 6; US 71
3.5 mi·6 min·East 7th Street
12
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
266 ft·6 sec·Chestnut Street
13
Turn right
227 ft·16 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4h 43m drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Atlantic. With a single recommended stop, you can easily break up the 252.2 miles. Consider stopping around the halfway point on I 80 for fuel and a break. The fuel cost is estimated at $39, so check your tank before departing Bettendorf. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility to depart later if needed, but be mindful of potential traffic as you merge onto I 74 and I 80.
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 126.1 miles from Bettendorf, IA, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 235.6 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 55 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.1 miles or 2h 21m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atlantic, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bettendorf, 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 Bettendorf, IA
This is one driving day of about 252.2 miles and 4h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Bettendorf, 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 235.6 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 0 and 241.7 — 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|12th Street
Turn right onto 12th Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|Middle Road
Turn right onto Middle Road
Navigation decision point
5
6.1 mi into trip|~10m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
179.4 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
5
241.7 mi into trip|~4h 26m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.24 one way
$74.49 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$41.12
$82.23
premium
$4.72
$46.83
$93.65
diesel
$4.80
$47.62
$95.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.7
0
$26.48
$12.11
Efficient EV
63.1
0
$22.07
$10.09
EV Truck/SUV
100.9
1
$35.31
$16.14
Gas CO2
88 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Bettendorf, IA
Late night
in Bettendorf on Sunday
Local time
1:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
W 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Atlantic, IA
Late night
in Atlantic on Sunday
Local time
1:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 2 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
62°F
Brooklyn, IA
126 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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 43m 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?
You'll spend 95% of your time on highways, with the bulk of the driving happening on I 80 for a continuous stretch of 235.6 miles. The route begins on I 74 before transitioning to I 80. After the long highway segment, you'll encounter a short 16.6 miles on surface roads, specifically 650th Street, as you approach Atlantic. Expect a consistent cruising experience with frequent exits along the interstate.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 235.6 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and 650th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 12th Street.
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 43m 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: near the start (12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Middle Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 235.6 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 35 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.
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: near the start (12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Middle Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Atlantic, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
