Carroll, IA to Bettendorf, IA is 248.2 miles and takes about 4h 57m via 230th Street and I 80, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest. Most of the route uses surface roads, offering a more connected feel to the landscape rather than a high-speed transit. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under five hours, this is a straightforward, single-day trip.
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
124.1 miles from Carroll, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
230th Street
77.2 mi
1h 29m
I 80
57.8 mi
1h 3m
220th Street
44.4 mi
58m
73rd Street
33.4 mi
38m
Avenue of the Saints
15.4 mi
16m
County Road N33
10.3 mi
13m
I 74
4.3 mi
5m
East 6th Street
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
230th Street
— 77.2 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carroll, IA and Bettendorf, IA.
1
Start on this road
129 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn right
74 ft·10 sec
3
Turn left onto US 30
2.3 mi·4 min·East 6th Street
4
Continue on US 30
10 mi·13 min·County Road N33
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 30
44 mi·58 min·220th Street
6
Continue on US 30
77 mi·1 hr 29 min·230th Street
7
Continue on US 30
33 mi·38 min·73rd Street
8
Take the exit onto US 218
0.4 mi·39 sec·US 218
Toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South: Iowa City, Airport
9
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
15 mi·16 min·Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
12
Merge onto I 80
58 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 80
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·44 sec
Toward I 74 East: Bettendorf, Davenport
14
Merge onto I 74
4.3 mi·5 min·I 74
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward US 67: US 67, Grant Street, State Street, Riverfront
16
Turn right onto US 67
0.1 mi·17 sec·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.1 mi·39 sec·12th Street
18
Turn left
74 ft·3 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the under-five-hour drive time, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. The route has just one recommended stop, so you can easily adjust your timing if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longer surface road segments, as gas stations might be less frequent than on the interstate. The $39 fuel estimate should cover the majority of your expenses.
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 124.1 miles from Carroll, IA, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.2 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 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.1 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bettendorf, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carroll, 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 Carroll, IA
This is one driving day of about 248.2 miles and 4h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Carroll, 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 230th Street for about 77.2 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 247.9 — 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
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
167.6 mi into trip|~3h 25m in|US 218
Take the exit onto US 218 toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South: Iowa City, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South:...
5
183.8 mi into trip|~3h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
5
242.8 mi into trip|~4h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 74 East: Bettendorf, Davenport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 East: Bettendorf, Davenport
6
247.9 mi into trip|~4h 56m in|US 67 / Grant Street
Turn right onto US 67 / Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.80 one way
$77.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$42.60
$85.21
premium
$4.89
$47.76
$95.53
diesel
$5.61
$54.80
$109.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.5
0
$26.06
$11.91
Efficient EV
62.1
0
$21.72
$9.93
EV Truck/SUV
99.3
1
$34.75
$15.88
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Carroll, IA
Late night
in Carroll on Tuesday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bettendorf, IA
Late night
in Bettendorf on Tuesday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Vinton, IA
124 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 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 57m 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 drive is predominantly on surface roads, with only 25% on highways. You'll experience a 77.2-mile stretch on 230th Street before merging onto I 80. Expect to see more local scenery and fewer exits compared to a full interstate experience. The transition from 230th Street to I 80 marks a shift from rural cruising to faster highway travel.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.2 mi on 230th Street.
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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 248.2 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: Navigation decision point; at 167.6 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 183.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Carroll, IA to Bettendorf, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 57m. Total distance: 248.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (25%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.2 miles on 230th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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: Navigation decision point; at 167.6 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 183.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Bettendorf, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
