Bettendorf, IA to Osceola County, IA is 370.1 miles and takes about 7h 26m via Avenue of the Saints, I 80, and US 59, with a fuel budget near $57 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Iowa entirely. Given that it's a single-day drive with a recommended one-day duration, you'll likely find yourself on a mix of highway and surface roads. With two planned stops, it offers a manageable pace for a cross-state adventure.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
185 miles from Bettendorf, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
230 mi
4h 22m
I 80
57.5 mi
1h 3m
US 59
13.6 mi
18m
Silver Avenue
13.5 mi
19m
Roosevelt Avenue
13 mi
17m
20th Avenue
9.2 mi
12m
Armstrong Avenue
6 mi
8m
I 74
4.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 230 mi, about 4h 22m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,955 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,469
Quietest
2 AM
~105 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Osceola County, 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
159 mi·3 hr 3 min·Avenue of the Saints
12
Turn right onto CR M27
6.0 mi·8 min·Armstrong Avenue
13
Continue on CR M27
9.2 mi·12 min·20th Avenue
14
Turn left onto IA 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 7
15
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi·2 min·State Highway 7
16
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi·2 min·1st Street
17
Continue on IA 7
1.9 mi·2 min·V Avenue
18
Turn left onto IA 3
0.2 mi·22 sec·State Highway 3
19
Turn straight onto IA 3
3.1 mi·4 min·530th Street
20
Turn right onto IA 3
2.7 mi·3 min·State Highway 3
21
Turn right onto US 59
14 mi·18 min·US 59
22
Turn left onto US 59; IA 10
4.1 mi·5 min·470th Street
23
Continue on US 59; IA 10
7.2 mi·9 min·Silver Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on US 59
1.6 mi·2 min·South Rerick Avenue
25
Continue on US 59
6.0 mi·8 min·Silver Avenue
26
Turn left onto US 18; US 59
1.0 mi·1 min·320th Street
27
Turn right onto US 59
13 mi·17 min·Roosevelt Avenue
28
Turn right onto 190th Street
1.0 mi·3 min·190th Street
29
Turn left onto Silver Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Silver Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
Silver Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour, 26-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Bettendorf to allow ample time for your two stops and to avoid driving in the dark. The longest stretch is 230 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, especially since much of the route is on surface roads. With a fuel cost estimated around $57, budgeting is straightforward. Aim to reach Osceola County with daylight to spare, enjoying the Midwest scenery along the way.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 185 miles from Bettendorf, IA, or about 3h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 230 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 81 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185 miles or 3h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Osceola County, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bettendorf, IA
This is one driving day of about 370.1 miles and 7h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Bettendorf, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 230 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 135.3 — 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|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...
4
135.3 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.29 one way
$120.59 round trip
$4.14/gal25.4 MPG avg130 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.44
$64.72
$129.45
premium
$5.03
$73.29
$146.58
diesel
$6.07
$88.45
$176.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111
1
$38.86
$17.76
Efficient EV
92.5
1
$32.38
$14.80
EV Truck/SUV
148
1
$51.81
$23.69
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Bettendorf, IA
Late night
in Bettendorf on Monday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Clear
S 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Osceola County, IA
Late night
in Osceola County on Monday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 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
1 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
7h 26m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 route covers 370.1 miles, with 22% on highways, meaning most of your travel will be on surface roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 230 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, which will likely feel like rural cruising. The transition from highway to these surface roads will be a noticeable shift in pace and scenery.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 230 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 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 370.1 miles you will encounter 17 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
Gently rolling terrain
1,564 ft569 ft
Total Climb
1,162 ft
Total Descent
167 ft
Highest Point
1,564 ft
~370.1 mi in
Elevation Range
995 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 Osceola County, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 26m. Total distance: 370.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 26m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 230 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Osceola County, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Osceola County, IA before the return drive.
