This 144.6-mile drive from Davenport, IA to Marshalltown, IA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 52 minutes. Expect a fuel cost of around $23 for this journey through the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes US 6 and US 218, with a portion also following the historic Lincoln Highway, offering a mixed driving experience. With only one recommended stop, this trip is straightforward and efficient, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a relatively quick transit between these Iowa cities.
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
72.3 miles from Davenport, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 6
51 mi
56m
US 218
33.7 mi
39m
Lincoln Highway
31.8 mi
36m
Avenue of the Saints
16 mi
17m
West Kimberly Road
2.9 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
South Center Street
2.3 mi
3m
Marquette Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 6
— 51 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Davenport, IA and Marshalltown, 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
51 mi·56 min·US 6
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
9
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
16 mi·17 min·Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit onto US 218
34 mi·39 min·US 218
Toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama
11
Continue on US 30
32 mi·36 min·Lincoln Highway
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
13
Turn right onto IA 14
2.3 mi·3 min·South Center Street
14
Turn right onto IA 14
0.3 mi·29 sec·East Anson Street
15
Turn left onto IA 14
0.8 mi·1 min·South 3rd Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
IA 14
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 52 minute duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. You can depart Davenport in the morning and arrive in Marshalltown by lunchtime, allowing for flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest uninterrupted stretch is 51 miles on US 6, and it's always wise to plan your stops. With a budget of approximately $23 for fuel, this is an economical option for a quick hop within Iowa.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.3 miles from Davenport, IA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51 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 32 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.3 miles or 1h 26m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marshalltown, 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 144.6 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 US 6 for about 51 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 75.5 — 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
5
58.6 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
6
58.9 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar...
5
75.5 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|US 218
Take the exit onto US 218 toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North:...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.61 one way
$45.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.82
$49.64
premium
$4.89
$27.83
$55.65
diesel
$5.61
$31.93
$63.85
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: 50.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.4
0
$15.18
$6.94
Efficient EV
36.2
0
$12.65
$5.78
EV Truck/SUV
57.8
0
$20.24
$9.25
Gas CO2
51 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Davenport, IA
Afternoon
in Davenport on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Marshalltown, IA
Afternoon
in Marshalltown on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 52m 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?
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 59% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 51 miles on US 6, providing a good opportunity to settle in. The route transitions between more direct highway segments and potentially slower local road sections as you navigate through Iowa's heartland. This blend means you'll experience varying speeds and road conditions, keeping the drive engaging without being overly demanding.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51 mi on US 6.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Marquette Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 52m drive. You will face about 12 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 58.6 miles: 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.
On the drive from Davenport, IA to Marshalltown, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo along the way.
Waterloo
58.9 mi in|~1h 11m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 144.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 51 miles on US 6. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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 58.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Marshalltown, IA before heading back.
