This 204.1-mile journey from Davenport, IA to Buffalo (historical), IA is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 57 minutes. The route primarily utilizes I 80 and US 6, with a small portion on North Avenue, making it an 88% highway-focused drive. With an estimated fuel cost of $32, this drive through the Midwest region of Iowa is efficient and straightforward. You'll find it to be a practical option if you're looking for a direct and relatively quick trip between these two points within the state.
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
102 miles from Davenport, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
114.8 mi
2h 5m
US 6
64.9 mi
1h 11m
North Avenue
13.8 mi
20m
West Kimberly Road
2.9 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
Clark Tower Road
1.5 mi
2m
Guthrie Street
1.1 mi
1m
Marquette Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 114.8 mi, about 2h 5m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,239 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,656
Quietest
2 AM
~192 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Davenport, IA and Buffalo (historical), IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West 4th Street
2
Turn right onto Marquette Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Marquette Street
3
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.5 mi·1 min·West Locust Street
4
Turn slight right onto US 6 Hist
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
6
Take the ramp onto US 6
65 mi·1 hr 11 min·US 6
7
Continue on I 80
102 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
13 mi·14 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward US 169, US 6: Adel, Winterset
10
Turn left onto US 6; US 169
481 ft·9 sec·North Avenue
11
Continue on US 6; US 169
1.1 mi·1 min·Guthrie Street
12
Continue on US 169
14 mi·20 min·North Avenue
13
Continue on CR P71
1.5 mi·2 min·Clark Tower Road
14
Turn left onto CR G50
343 ft·10 sec·St Charles Road
15
Turn right onto Maple Lane
195 ft·8 sec·Maple Lane
16
Arrive at destination
Maple Lane
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 57-minute duration, this 204.1-mile trip is comfortably a one-day adventure. You can easily complete it without needing an overnight stop, offering flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. The longest stretch on I 80 is over 100 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, keeping the $32 estimated fuel cost in mind. With only one recommended stop, you'll want to ensure you're well-rested before hitting the road.
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 102 miles from Davenport, IA, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.8 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 45 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102 miles or 1h 57m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buffalo (historical), IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 204.1 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Davenport, 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 114.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 204 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|Marquette Street
Turn right onto Marquette Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.7 mi into trip|~10m in|US 6 / West Kimberly Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 6 / West Kimberly Road
Navigation decision point
7
174.5 mi into trip|~3h 16m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
5
187.3 mi into trip|~3h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 169, US 6: Adel, Winterset
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 169, US 6: Adel, Winterset
5
204 mi into trip|~3h 57m in|Maple Lane
Turn right onto Maple Lane
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.93 one way
$67.87 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$36.96
$73.93
premium
$5.18
$41.65
$83.30
diesel
$5.35
$42.99
$85.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.2
0
$21.43
$9.80
Efficient EV
51
0
$17.86
$8.16
EV Truck/SUV
81.6
1
$28.57
$13.06
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 May 29, 2026
Origin
Davenport, IA
Afternoon
in Davenport on Wednesday
Local time
4:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Buffalo (historical), IA
Afternoon
in Buffalo (historical) on Wednesday
Local time
4:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Cloudy
ESE 6 mph2% chanceLive forecast
89°F
Brooklyn, IA
102 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
6 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 57m 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 highway-focused drive for the majority of this 204.1-mile route, with 88% of the journey on major roadways like I 80 and US 6. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 114.8 miles on I 80, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While largely on fast-paced highways, the inclusion of US 6 and North Avenue might offer slight variations in scenery and speed as you progress towards Buffalo. Overall, the character is one of efficient travel rather than winding backroads.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 114.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 6. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Marquette Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 57m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Marquette Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (US 6 / West Kimberly Road): Navigation decision point; at 174.5 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
988 ft587 ft
Total Climb
716 ft
Total Descent
382 ft
Highest Point
988 ft
~116.6 mi in
Elevation Range
401 ft
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 Davenport, IA to Buffalo (historical), IA, road signs begin pointing toward Winterset along the way.
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
•Sacred Heart Cathedral — cathedral church for the Catholic Diocese of Davenport
•Lock and Dam No. 15 — lock and dam on the Mississippi River between Rock Island, Illinois and Davenpor...
The longest stretch is about 114.8 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 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: at 0.7 miles (Marquette Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (US 6 / West Kimberly Road): Navigation decision point; at 174.5 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Buffalo (historical), IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
