Davenport, IA to Melcher-Dallas, IA is 174.7 miles and takes about 3h 34m via US 6 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip primarily within the Midwest's rolling terrain. You'll spend most of your time on major arteries, making it a practical choice for a quick transit between these two Iowa points. Given its relatively short duration and focus on main roads, this route is well-suited for a single-day journey without feeling overly rushed.
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
87.3 miles from Davenport, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 6
64.9 mi
1h 11m
I 80
61.3 mi
1h 5m
State Highway 14
31 mi
45m
Highway G76
3 mi
5m
West Kimberly Road
2.9 mi
4m
County Highway G76
2.5 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
North Lincoln Street
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 6
— 64.9 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Davenport, IA and Melcher-Dallas, 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
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 80
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe
9
Turn left onto State Highway 14
11 mi·16 min·State Highway 14
10
Continue on IA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·Monroe Street
11
Continue on IA 14
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 14
12
Continue on IA 14
2.3 mi·3 min·North Lincoln Street
13
Continue on IA 14
7.4 mi·11 min·State Highway 14
14
Turn right onto CR G76
3.0 mi·5 min·Highway G76
15
Continue on CR G76
2.5 mi·4 min·County Highway G76
16
Turn right onto CR S45
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
17
Continue on CR S45
471 ft·9 sec·Northeast Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
CR S45
Trip Plan
Since this 3h 34m drive is easily manageable in a single day, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Davenport, IA in the morning will get you to Melcher-Dallas, IA with plenty of daylight remaining. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the longest stretch of 64.9 miles on US 6 for a quick stretch or fuel top-up. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when transitioning between US 6, I 80, and State Highway 14, as services can be more spread out on certain segments.
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 87.3 miles from Davenport, IA, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.9 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 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.3 miles or 1h 41m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Melcher-Dallas, 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 174.7 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 64.9 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 173.7 — 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
4
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|US 6 Hist / West Locust Street
Turn left onto US 6 Hist / West Locust 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
133.7 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
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
Toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe
4
173.7 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|CR S45 / South Main Street
Turn right onto CR S45 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.31 one way
$54.62 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.99
$59.98
premium
$4.89
$33.62
$67.24
diesel
$5.61
$38.57
$77.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.4
0
$18.34
$8.39
Efficient EV
43.7
0
$15.29
$6.99
EV Truck/SUV
69.9
0
$24.46
$11.18
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 18, 2026
Origin
Davenport, IA
Night
in Davenport on Saturday
Local time
9:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Cloudy
NW 15 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Melcher-Dallas, IA
Night
in Melcher-Dallas on Saturday
Local time
9:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
87 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
13 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 34m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 90% of the journey utilizing major roads like US 6 and I 80. Expect long stretches of efficient travel, including one segment of 64.9 miles solely on US 6, allowing for steady progress. While the profile is highway-focused, the inclusion of State Highway 14 adds a brief change of pace as you approach your destination. The overall driving experience is characterized by consistent speeds and a predictable road surface, minimizing unexpected delays.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.9 mi on US 6.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Davenport, IA to Melcher-Dallas, IA is easy. At 3h 34m with 90% 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.
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 Melcher-Dallas, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Monroe along the way.
Monroe
133.7 mi in|~2h 31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 34m. Total distance: 174.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 64.9 miles on US 6. 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.
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 1.7 miles (US 6 Hist / West Locust Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (US 6 / West Kimberly Road): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Melcher-Dallas, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
