Spanning 156 miles across the Iowa countryside, this journey from Conrad to Davenport typically takes about 2 hours and 39 minutes. You can easily manage this as a single-day trip, as it doesn't require an overnight stay to complete comfortably. Budget approximately $24 for fuel to cover the distance, which remains entirely on local roads rather than major interstates. Because this route relies on East Center Street, 330th Street, and Center Street, it offers a distinct, grassroots look at the Midwest landscape. It is a straightforward trek for travelers who prefer local roads over the high-speed monotony of the highway system.
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
77.1 miles from Conrad, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
49.7 mi
54m
73rd Street
33.4 mi
38m
Lincoln Highway
24.7 mi
28m
Avenue of the Saints
15.4 mi
16m
Wallace Avenue
10.8 mi
14m
West Kimberly Road
3 mi
4m
Zeller Avenue
2.7 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 49.7 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Conrad, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on North Main Street
74 ft·7 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR D67
0.5 mi·54 sec·East Center Street
3
Continue on CR D67
2.0 mi·2 min·330th Street
4
Turn right onto CR T29
0.5 mi·1 min·Center Street
5
Continue on CR T29
0.5 mi·39 sec·Kave Avenue
6
Continue on CR T29
11 mi·14 min·Wallace Avenue
7
Continue on Main Street Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Main Street Road
8
Turn right onto Zeller Avenue
2.7 mi·4 min·Zeller Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·1 min
10
Merge onto US 30
25 mi·28 min·Lincoln Highway
11
Continue on US 30
33 mi·38 min·73rd Street
12
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
13
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
15 mi·16 min·Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
15
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
16
Merge onto I 80
50 mi·54 min·I 80
17
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
18
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
19
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
20
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
21
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi·2 min·West Locust Street
22
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Gaines Street
23
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 14th Street
24
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Harrison Street
25
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
26
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-three-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Plan for at least one stop along the way to break up the 156-mile trek, as the turn-heavy nature of these local roads can be more taxing than standard highway driving. Keep your eyes on your fuel gauge early on, as local roads may offer fewer service stations than major thoroughfares. Because you are navigating local streets like 330th Street, remain alert for changing speed limits and intersections that require more frequent adjustments than an interstate cruise. Starting your trip in the morning will help you navigate the turns in daylight, making the transition between rural stretches much easier to manage.
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 77.1 miles from Conrad, IA, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.7 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 34 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.1 miles or 1h 36m 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 31m
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 Conrad, 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 Conrad, IA
This is one driving day of about 154.2 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Conrad, 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 49.7 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 77.8 and 153.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
77.8 mi into trip|~1h 37m 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
93.9 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
5
144.8 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock...
5
146 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, W...
5
153.1 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|West 14th Street
Turn left onto West 14th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.11 one way
$48.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.47
$52.94
premium
$4.89
$29.67
$59.35
diesel
$5.61
$34.05
$68.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.3
0
$16.19
$7.40
Efficient EV
38.6
0
$13.49
$6.17
EV Truck/SUV
61.7
0
$21.59
$9.87
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Conrad, IA
Late night
in Conrad on Sunday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Davenport, IA
Late night
in Davenport on Sunday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live 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
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
3h 9m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. With a 0% highway share, you will be navigating local arteries for the duration of the trip rather than cruising on wide-open expressways. The route maintains a consistent, steady pace through the Iowa interior, favoring smaller roads that wind through the region. Since the drive is purely local, you won't encounter the typical rhythm of interstate travel. Instead, you'll experience a more intimate connection to the road as you transition between local streets and rural connectors.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.7 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 77.8 miles in near US 218.
Driving Effort6/10
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 154.2 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: at 77.8 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 144.8 miles (US 6): 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 Conrad, IA and Davenport, IA, road signs point toward Airport, Moline and Walcott.
Airport
77.8 mi in|~1h 37m|via US 218
Moline
144.8 mi in|~2h 51m|via US 6
Walcott
146 mi in|~2h 53m|via US 6
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 9m. Total distance: 154.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.7 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.
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: at 77.8 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 144.8 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Davenport, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
