Connecting Bettendorf to Waukee, this 184-mile journey across Iowa is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 3 hours and 28 minutes. Because the route is highly efficient, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stop. Budgeting approximately $28 for fuel will cover your transit across the state. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout your drive. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, the route is designed for speed rather than sightseeing. It serves as a practical, no-nonsense path between these two Iowa hubs.
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
92 miles from Bettendorf, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
171.8 mi
3h 7m
Hickman Road
5.6 mi
9m
I 74
4.4 mi
5m
Kimberly Road
1 mi
2m
Middle Road
0.4 mi
1m
6th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
12th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Ashworth Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 171.8 mi, about 3h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bettendorf, IA and Waukee, 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
172 mi·3 hr 7 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 125Toward US 6: Hickman Road, AdelUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto US 6
5.6 mi·9 min·Hickman Road
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto CR R22
0.2 mi·34 sec·6th Street
11
Turn left onto Ashworth Drive
139 ft·4 sec·Ashworth Drive
12
Arrive at destination
Ashworth Drive
Trip Plan
Planning for this trip is simple given the manageable duration, but leaving early helps you avoid potential congestion on the busiest interstate segments. With only one recommended stop needed to cover the 184 miles, you have plenty of flexibility to pace yourself based on your own comfort. Keep in mind that since the vast majority of your time is spent on I-80, you should monitor your fuel levels before merging onto the interstate to avoid unnecessary detours. Since you are traveling across the state, check the weather reports for the entire corridor before departure, as Iowa conditions can shift between your starting point and destination. Taking advantage of the single planned stop is the best way to stay refreshed for the final approach into Waukee.
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 92 miles from Bettendorf, IA, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 171.8 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 40 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92 miles or 1h 43m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waukee, 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 184 miles and 3h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 171.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 178.2 — 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.
8
177.9 mi into trip|~3h 17m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Hickman Road, Adel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 125
Toward US 6: Hickman Road, Adel
5
178.2 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|US 6 / Hickman Road
Turn right onto US 6 / Hickman Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.77 one way
$57.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.58
$63.17
premium
$4.89
$35.41
$70.82
diesel
$5.61
$40.62
$81.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.2
0
$19.32
$8.83
Efficient EV
46
0
$16.10
$7.36
EV Truck/SUV
73.6
0
$25.76
$11.78
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Bettendorf, IA
Night
in Bettendorf on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 15 to 20 mph66% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 10:04AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 16 at 9:20PM CDT until April 24 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Waukee, IA
Night
in Waukee on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 24 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 10:04AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 16 at 9:20PM CDT until April 24 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
49°F
Vinton, IA
92 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
3 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 28m 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?
Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience as you spend 96% of your time on major routes like I-80, I-74, and Hickman Road. The personality of this drive is dominated by a long, uninterrupted 171.8-mile stretch on I-80, which defines the bulk of your time behind the wheel. Because such a high percentage of the trip is on high-speed infrastructure, you can maintain a steady pace throughout the journey. The transition from the interstate to Hickman Road marks the final shift in the road's character as you reach the Waukee area. It is a predictable drive that prioritizes efficiency and direct travel over winding local paths.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 171.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Hickman Road. 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 3h 28m drive. You will face about 9 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 28m. Total distance: 184 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 171.8 miles on I 80. 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.
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 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Waukee, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
