This 303.2-mile journey from Davenport, IA to Carter Lake, IA is a substantial drive, estimated to take around 5 hours and 41 minutes. It's a highway-focused trip predominantly utilizing I 80, with a small portion on US 6 and I 80 Local. Given its length and the 97% highway share, it's manageable as a single-day trip, though a comfortable pace is recommended. Expect a fuel cost of approximately $46 for this drive through the Midwest. This route is ideal for those prioritizing direct travel between these two Iowa locations.
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
151.6 miles from Davenport, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
221.2 mi
3h 59m
US 6
66.6 mi
1h 14m
I 80 Local
2.9 mi
3m
West Kimberly Road
2.9 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
I 29
2 mi
2m
North 11th Street
1.1 mi
2m
Marquette Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 221.2 mi, about 3h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Davenport, IA and Carter Lake, 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
96 mi·1 hr 42 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
24 mi·25 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Local; US 6
2.9 mi·3 min·I 80 Local; US 6
Exit 4BToward I 29 North, I 80 West Local: Council BluffsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 29; US 6
2.0 mi·2 min·I 29; US 6
Toward I 29 North: Sioux CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 6
1.7 mi·2 min·US 6
Toward I 480 West, US 6 West
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 3Toward 14th Street, Old Market District, Creighton University
14
Turn right onto North 14th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North 14th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto Izard Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·Izard Street
16
Continue on North 11th Street
1.1 mi·2 min·North 11th Street
17
Turn right onto East Locust Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Locust Street
18
Turn left onto North 9th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North 9th Street
19
Arrive at destination
North 9th Street
Trip Plan
For this 303.2-mile drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With a total duration of 5 hours and 41 minutes, most drivers will find it feasible to complete in one day without needing an overnight stop. While there's only one recommended stop, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 221.2-mile stretch on I 80, and plan your refueling accordingly. The $46 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a little extra for unexpected needs.
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 151.6 miles from Davenport, IA, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 221.2 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 67 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 151.6 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carter Lake, 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 303.2 miles and 5h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 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 221.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 300.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
6
270 mi into trip|~4h 59m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebrask...
9
293.6 mi into trip|~5h 25m in|I 80 Local; US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Local; US 6 toward I 29 North, I 80 West Local: Council Bluffs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4B
Toward I 29 North, I 80 West Local: Council Blu...
6
300.2 mi into trip|~5h 33m in
Take the exit toward 14th Street, Old Market District, Creighton University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3
Toward 14th Street, Old Market District, Creigh...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.40 one way
$94.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg106 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$52.05
$104.09
premium
$4.89
$58.35
$116.70
diesel
$5.61
$66.94
$133.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91
1
$31.84
$14.55
Efficient EV
75.8
0
$26.53
$12.13
EV Truck/SUV
121.3
1
$42.45
$19.40
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Davenport, IA
Evening
in Davenport on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Carter Lake, IA
Evening
in Carter Lake on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
5 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
5h 41m 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?
Prepare for a predominantly highway-focused experience, with 97% of the route on major roads. You'll spend a significant amount of time on I 80, including a long, uninterrupted stretch of 221.2 miles. While the landscape is consistent with a Midwest drive, the focus is on efficient travel rather than varied scenery. The transition onto US 6 and I 80 Local will offer minor shifts in the driving environment as you approach your destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 221.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 6. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in near US 6 / West Kimberly Road.
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 303.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 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; at 270 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,359 ft587 ft
Total Climb
903 ft
Total Descent
515 ft
Highest Point
1,359 ft
~216.5 mi in
Elevation Range
771 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 Carter Lake, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Omaha Nebraska along the way.
Omaha Nebraska
270 mi in|~4h 59m|via I 80
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 41m. Total distance: 303.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 221.2 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 Carter Lake, 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 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; at 270 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Carter Lake, IA before the return drive.
