Bettendorf, IA to Iowa Falls, IA is 191.6 miles and takes about 3h 42m via Avenue of the Saints and I 80, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Iowa, making it a straightforward domestic drive. The route offers a mix of highway cruising and surface roads, suitable for a single-day excursion. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, it's an efficient way to travel between these two Iowa locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
95.8 miles from Bettendorf, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
121.1 mi
2h 16m
I 80
57.5 mi
1h 3m
US 65
5 mi
8m
I 74
4.4 mi
5m
Kimberly Road
1 mi
2m
Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Middle Road
0.4 mi
1m
12th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 121.1 mi, about 2h 16m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,943 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,357
Quietest
2 AM
~105 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.5×
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 Iowa Falls, 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
57 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 80
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
10
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
71 mi·1 hr 18 min·Avenue of the Saints
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
50 mi·58 min·Avenue of the Saints
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward US 65: Iowa Falls, Hubbard
13
Turn right onto US 65
5.0 mi·8 min·US 65
14
Turn right onto Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Rocksylvania Avenue
15
Turn left onto Commercial Street
331 ft·9 sec·Commercial Street
16
Arrive at destination
Commercial Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 42m estimated drive time, leaving Bettendorf in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a total distance of 191.6 miles, you have flexibility to take it easy. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is around $30, and while there are frequent services on the main roads, it's always wise to top off when you see a station. The longest continuous stretch is over 121 miles, so plan your break accordingly before or after that segment.
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 95.8 miles from Bettendorf, IA, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.1 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 42 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.8 miles or 1h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Iowa Falls, 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 191.6 miles and 3h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 121.1 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 0 and 185.6 — 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
63.5 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
6
63.9 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar...
5
185.6 mi into trip|~3h 31m in
Take the exit toward US 65: Iowa Falls, Hubbard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 65: Iowa Falls, Hubbard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.86 one way
$63.71 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$34.70
$69.40
premium
$5.18
$39.10
$78.19
diesel
$5.35
$40.36
$80.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.5
0
$20.12
$9.20
Efficient EV
47.9
0
$16.77
$7.66
EV Truck/SUV
76.6
0
$26.82
$12.26
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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 May 15, 2026
Origin
Bettendorf, IA
Afternoon
in Bettendorf on Wednesday
Local time
4:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 10 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Iowa Falls, IA
Afternoon
in Iowa Falls on Wednesday
Local time
4:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 8 mph0% chanceLive 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
2 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
3h 42m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 drive has a 35% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on surface roads. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 121.1 miles on Avenue of the Saints. Expect to transition from highway driving to more rural cruising as you progress. The mixed highway and surface profile suggests a varied driving experience, moving from faster Interstate speeds to potentially slower local roads.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 121.1 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 12th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 191.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 (12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Middle Road): Navigation decision point; at 63.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,106 ft569 ft
Total Climb
582 ft
Total Descent
45 ft
Highest Point
1,106 ft
~191.6 mi in
Elevation Range
538 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bettendorf, IA to Iowa Falls, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 42m. Total distance: 191.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 121.1 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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 63.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Iowa Falls, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
