Davenport to Orange City is 361 miles and takes about 7h 10m via Avenue of the Saints and US 6, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. Expect a drive that's mostly on surface roads, so plan for a more leisurely pace than a pure interstate cruise. With just two recommended stops and a longest stretch of 231 miles, it's a manageable one-day drive, but you could also break it up if you prefer a more relaxed experience.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
180.5 miles from Davenport, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
231 mi
4h 23m
US 6
51 mi
56m
Highway 20
19 mi
22m
State Highway 140
15.1 mi
20m
County Road L14
7 mi
9m
160th Street
6.4 mi
7m
Lee Avenue
5.4 mi
7m
Kiwi Avenue
5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 231 mi, about 4h 23m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,943 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,357
Quietest
2 AM
~105 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Orange City, 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
71 mi·1 hr 18 min·Avenue of the Saints
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
160 mi·3 hr 4 min·Avenue of the Saints
11
Continue on US 20
6.4 mi·7 min·160th Street
12
Continue on US 20
1.9 mi·2 min·United States Highway 20
13
Continue on US 20
19 mi·22 min·Highway 20
14
Turn right onto L21
5.4 mi·7 min·Lee Avenue
15
Continue on Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi·2 min·Shamrock Avenue
16
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi·2 min·320th Street
17
Turn right onto IA 140
15 mi·20 min·State Highway 140
18
Continue on L14
7.0 mi·9 min·County Road L14
19
Continue on L14
5.0 mi·6 min·Kiwi Avenue
20
At end of road, turn left onto IA 10
1.8 mi·2 min·460th Street
21
Continue on IA 10
0.3 mi·24 sec·State Highway 10
22
Continue on IA 10
0.8 mi·1 min·Kennedy Avenue
23
Turn left onto IA 10
2.0 mi·2 min·450th Street
24
Enter roundabout onto 450th Street
81 ft·4 sec·450th Street
25
Continue on 450th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·450th Street
26
Continue on IA 10
0.2 mi·37 sec·8th Street Southeast
27
Turn right onto Albany Avenue Southeast
0.7 mi·1 min·Albany Avenue Southeast
28
Turn left onto 2nd Street Northeast
430 ft·20 sec·2nd Street Northeast
29
Arrive at destination
2nd Street Northwest
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, aim to leave Davenport early in the morning. This allows you to comfortably complete the 361 miles within daylight hours, even with two stops factored in. The longest stretch is 231 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, so plan one of your stops before or after this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you transition to surface roads where stations might be less frequent than on major highways. Given the manageable duration, you have flexibility to add an extra stop if something catches your eye along the way.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 180.5 miles from Davenport, IA, or about 3h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 231 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 79 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180.5 miles or 3h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orange City, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Davenport, IA
This is one driving day of about 361 miles and 7h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Davenport, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 231 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 354.3 — 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
354.3 mi into trip|~6h 59m in|IA 10 / 460th Street
At end of road, turn left onto IA 10 / 460th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.31 one way
$106.62 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg126 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$58.85
$117.71
premium
$4.72
$67.03
$134.05
diesel
$4.80
$68.16
$136.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.3
1
$37.91
$17.33
Efficient EV
90.3
1
$31.59
$14.44
EV Truck/SUV
144.4
1
$50.54
$23.10
Gas CO2
126 kg
EV CO2
42 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Davenport, IA
Evening
in Davenport on Saturday
Local time
8:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:31AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:02PM CDT until July 18 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Orange City, IA
Evening
in Orange City on Saturday
Local time
8:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:31AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:02PM CDT until July 18 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 10m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 is predominantly on surface roads, with only 24% of the total 361 miles spent on highways. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch on the Avenue of the Saints for 231 miles. After that, expect to transition to more local roads. The frequent exits and varied speed limits on surface roads mean you'll be adjusting your pace more often than on a high-speed interstate.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 231 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 10m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 16 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,453 ft587 ft
Total Climb
1,132 ft
Total Descent
280 ft
Highest Point
1,453 ft
~283.6 mi in
Elevation Range
865 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 Orange City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo 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...
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 10m. Total distance: 361 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 10m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 231 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Orange City, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Orange City, IA before the return drive.
