Clear Lake to Davenport is 226.4 miles and takes about 4h 27m via US 18, Avenue of the Saints, and I 80, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. With 65% of the drive on highways, expect a good amount of cruising time, making it a manageable one-day excursion. Plan for a single recommended stop along the way. This route is a straightforward connection between two familiar Midwestern points.
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
113.2 miles from Clear Lake, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 18
81.7 mi
1h 34m
Avenue of the Saints
66.4 mi
1h 13m
I 80
49.7 mi
54m
Leo P Rooff Expressway
6.7 mi
8m
I 380
6.5 mi
7m
West Kimberly Road
3 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
Washington Street
2.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 18
— 81.7 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clear Lake, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on North 6th Street
79 ft·5 sec·North 6th Street
2
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
186 ft·10 sec·1st Avenue North
3
Turn right onto I 35 Business
0.3 mi·33 sec·North 8th Street
4
Turn left onto I 35 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·4th Avenue South
5
Take the ramp onto I 35 Business
0.3 mi·43 sec·I 35 Business
Toward I 35 south, US 18 east, IA 27 south: Des Moines
6
Merge onto I 35; US 18; IA 27
1.7 mi·1 min·Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit onto US 18; IA 27
0.4 mi·26 sec·US 18; IA 27
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
8
Turn slight right onto US 18; IA 27
81 mi·1 hr 34 min·US 18; IA 27
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
9
Take the exit
317 ft·7 sec
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
10
Continue on US 218
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
11
Merge onto US 218
6.7 mi·8 min·Leo P Rooff Expressway
12
Continue on US 218
2.4 mi·3 min·Washington Street
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
6.5 mi·7 min·I 380
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
14
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
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
16
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
17
Merge onto I 80
50 mi·54 min·I 80
18
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
19
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
20
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
21
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
22
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi·2 min·West Locust Street
23
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Gaines Street
24
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 14th Street
25
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Harrison Street
26
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
27
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 27m estimated drive time, leaving Clear Lake in the morning is ideal to make the most of daylight. The recommended single stop is well-placed for a break during the 226.4-mile journey. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 81.7-mile stretch on US 18 where services might be less frequent than on the interstate. The $35 fuel estimate is a helpful guide for budgeting. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility on departure and arrival times.
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 113.2 miles from Clear Lake, IA, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.7 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 50 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.2 miles or 2h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 34m
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 Clear Lake, 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 Clear Lake, IA
This is one driving day of about 226.4 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Clear Lake, 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 US 18 for about 81.7 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 101.2 — 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|1st Avenue North
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|I 35 Business
Take the ramp onto I 35 Business toward I 35 south, US 18 east, IA 27 south: Des Moines
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 south, US 18 east, IA 27 south: Des...
5
3.5 mi into trip|~5m in|US 18; IA 27
Take the exit onto US 18; IA 27 toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Cha...
6
94.6 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids,...
6
101.2 mi into trip|~2h 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
$35.40 one way
$70.79 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$38.86
$77.72
premium
$4.89
$43.57
$87.14
diesel
$5.61
$49.99
$99.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.9
0
$23.77
$10.87
Efficient EV
56.6
0
$19.81
$9.06
EV Truck/SUV
90.6
1
$31.70
$14.49
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 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 16, 2026
Origin
Clear Lake, IA
Late night
in Clear Lake on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Davenport, IA
Late night
in Davenport on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
113 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
23 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 27m 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 mostly highway, with 65% of the 226.4 miles on faster roads like I 80. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of highway driving for 81.7 miles on US 18. Expect a more rural feel for a significant portion of the trip, punctuated by the denser exits as you approach the Quad Cities area. The transition from more open highway cruising to areas with more frequent services and local traffic will be noticeable.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.7 mi on US 18.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 18 and Avenue of the Saints. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 1st Avenue North.
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 21 significant decision points across 226.4 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 (1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 35 Business): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles (US 18; IA 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Clear Lake, IA and Davenport, IA, road signs point toward Dubuque and Cedar Falls.
Dubuque
94.6 mi in|~1h 52m|via I 380
Cedar Falls
94.6 mi in|~1h 52m|via I 380
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 27m. Total distance: 226.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81.7 miles on US 18. 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.
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 (1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 35 Business): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles (US 18; IA 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Davenport, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
