Stretching 144.9 miles across the Iowa landscape, this drive connects Cedar Falls to Davenport in approximately 2 hours and 17 minutes. Because the route relies entirely on local roads like Main Street and 18th Street rather than major interstates, it functions best as a focused day trip. You should budget roughly $22 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Midwestern cities. While the trip is manageable in a single day, the turn-heavy nature of the route requires your full attention. It is a straightforward journey if you prefer a steady, localized pace over the high-speed monotony of typical highway travel.
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
71.5 miles from Cedar Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
68.8 mi
1h 17m
I 80
49.7 mi
54m
IA 27
12.8 mi
15m
West Kimberly Road
3 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
US 6
1.5 mi
2m
West Locust Street
0.9 mi
2m
Harrison Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 68.8 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
52 ft·8 sec·Main Street
2
Continue on Main Street
61 ft·1 sec·Main Street
3
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
104 ft·2 sec·Main Street
4
Continue on Main Street
0.4 mi·40 sec·Main Street
5
Turn left onto West 18th Street
40 ft·3 sec·West 18th Street
6
At end of road, turn straight onto East 18th Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·East 18th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward IA 27 south, IA 58 southUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto IA 27; IA 58
4.1 mi·5 min·Avenue of the Saints
9
Turn left onto IA 27
13 mi·15 min·IA 27
Toward US 20 East, IA 27 South: Dubuque, Cedar Rapids
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
65 mi·1 hr 11 min·Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
12
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
13
Merge onto I 80
50 mi·54 min·I 80
14
Take the exit onto US 6
1.1 mi·2 min·US 6
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
15
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
16
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
17
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
18
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi·2 min·West Locust Street
19
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Gaines Street
20
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 14th Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Harrison Street
22
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
23
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Since this 144.9-mile journey involves no designated stops, you have the flexibility to set your own pace and timing. Plan to depart early in the morning to avoid local traffic congestion, which can be particularly impactful on turn-heavy local roads. Given the $22 fuel estimate, it is smart to check your tank before heading out, as you will be navigating streets rather than highway service plazas. Keep your GPS running at all times to manage the frequent turns on Main Street and 18th Street effectively. Because there are no major breaks built into the route, consider scheduling a personal rest stop to ensure you remain alert throughout the 2-hour-and-17-minute drive.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.5 miles from Cedar Falls, IA, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.8 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 31 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.5 miles or 1h 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 2h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Davenport, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cedar Falls, 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 Cedar Falls, IA
This is one driving day of about 142.9 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Cedar Falls, 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 68.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 17.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|East 18th Street
At end of road, turn straight onto East 18th Street
Navigation decision point
8
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward IA 27 south, IA 58 south
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward IA 27 south, IA 58 south
5
4.9 mi into trip|~7m in|IA 27
Turn left onto IA 27 toward US 20 East, IA 27 South: Dubuque, Cedar Rapids
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 East, IA 27 South: Dubuque, Cedar...
6
17.7 mi into trip|~22m in|I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.34 one way
$44.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.53
$49.06
premium
$4.89
$27.50
$55.00
diesel
$5.61
$31.55
$63.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.9
0
$15.00
$6.86
Efficient EV
35.7
0
$12.50
$5.72
EV Truck/SUV
57.2
0
$20.01
$9.15
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Cedar Falls, IA
Night
in Cedar Falls on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Davenport, IA
Night
in Davenport on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 15 mph77% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 4:52PM CDT until April 17 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued April 17 at 4:50PM CDT until April 17 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
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
33 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
2h 49m 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 very different experience than your typical interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. The drive consists entirely of local navigation, characterized by a turn-heavy profile that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Because you are sticking to streets like West 18th and East 18th, the journey feels more like an extended urban commute than a cross-country sprint. Without any long, uninterrupted highway stretches, you will find the road demands constant awareness of your surroundings and upcoming turns. Prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace that prioritizes local connectivity over rapid transit.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.8 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 142.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.4 miles (East 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cedar Falls, IA and Davenport, IA, road signs point toward Moline and Walcott.
Moline
133.6 mi in|~2h 31m|via US 6
Walcott
134.7 mi in|~2h 33m|via US 6
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 142.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.8 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Davenport, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.4 miles (East 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Davenport, IA before heading back.
