Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 56m
Distance
148.9 mi
240 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Davenport, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Baxter, IA
Tara Winstead
The drive from Davenport, IA to Baxter, IA covers 148.9 miles and takes about 2h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 6, I 80, West Kimberly Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 74.5 miles on US 6. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.09 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
74.4 miles from Davenport, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 6 | 74.5 mi | 1h 25m |
| I 80 | 61.3 mi | 1h 5m |
| West Kimberly Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Hickory Grove Road | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Highway F 17 West | 2 mi | 3m |
| County Highway F17 West | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Marquette Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| County F17 | 1 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,226 veh/hr typical · worst 1,589
Quietest
2 AM
~170 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 101 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Davenport, IA and Baxter, IA.
Start on West 4th Street
Turn right onto Marquette Street
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
Turn slight right onto US 6 Hist
At end of road, turn left onto US 6
Take the ramp onto US 6
Continue on I 80
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 6; IA 14
Turn left onto CR F17
Continue on CR F17
Continue on CR F17
Continue on CR F62
Turn right onto South Main Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 33 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.4 miles or 1h 27m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baxter, IA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Davenport, 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 Davenport, IA
This is one driving day of about 148.9 miles and 2h 56m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 74.4 miles from Davenport, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 6 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 143.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Marquette Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 6 Hist / West Locust Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto US 6 / West Kimberly Road
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto CR F17 / County F17
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$23.09 one way
$46.17 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $25.31 | $50.63 |
| premium | $4.93 | $28.89 | $57.78 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $32.82 | $65.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.7 | 0 | $15.63 | $7.15 |
| Efficient EV | 37.2 | 0 | $13.03 | $5.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.6 | 0 | $20.85 | $9.53 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Davenport on Friday
Local time
4:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Baxter on Friday
Local time
4:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
87°F
Tiffin, IA
74 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
148.9 mi in 2h 56m, mostly highway — 74.5 mi of that is on US 6.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 6 and I 80. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Marquette Street.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Davenport, IA to Baxter, IA is easy. At 2h 56m with 91% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Marquette Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 6 Hist / West Locust Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (US 6 / West Kimberly Road): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
535 ft
Total Descent
117 ft
Highest Point
1,006 ft
~148.9 mi in
Elevation Range
418 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Davenport, IA to Baxter, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Monroe along the way.
Monroe
Founded 1836
Davenport is one of the Quad Cities, in Eastern Iowa. This Midwestern city on the bank of the Mississippi River has seen a great deal of action throughout history. Today Davenport offers visitors interesting museums, activities and culinary experiences. Being one of the Quad Cities, a side trip to another city is easily doable - just follow the color coded signs!
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 148.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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