Origin
Davenport, IA
Late night in Davenport on Sunday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Davenport, IA to Ottumwa, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 46m
Distance
133.8 mi
215 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 35m
★
6 AM
2h 46m
8 AM
3h 8m
10 AM
2h 54m
12 PM
2h 52m
3 PM
2h 55m
5 PM
3h 7m
8 PM
2h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Davenport, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ottumwa, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
Davenport to Ottumwa is 134 miles and takes about 2 hours 46 minutes via US 34, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Iowa, making it a straightforward journey between two points in the same state. The profile is a mixed drive, suggesting you'll encounter various road types rather than a single, continuous interstate. With a recommended one-day duration and a manageable distance, this route is ideal for a quick trip without needing an overnight stay. You can expect a straightforward drive, suitable for those looking for a direct connection between these two 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
66.9 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 34 | 47.6 mi | 55m |
| 140th Street | 20.3 mi | 22m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 20.3 mi | 23m |
| State Highway 92 | 17 mi | 25m |
| Grandview Avenue | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| Douglas King Memorial Expressway | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| West River Drive | 5.5 mi | 8m |
| East Main Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 34
— 47.6 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Davenport, IA and Ottumwa, IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 4th Street
2
Turn left onto Warren Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Warren Street
3
Turn right onto US 61 Business
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
West River Drive
4
Continue on US 61
20 mi
·
22 min
·
140th Street
5
Continue on US 61; IA 22; IA 92
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Douglas King Memorial Expressway
6
Turn right onto US 61; IA 92
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Grandview Avenue
7
Take the exit onto IA 92
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
IA 92
Toward IA 92 west, CR G48 east: Grandview, Columbus Junction
8
Turn right onto IA 92
8.1 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 92
9
Continue on IA 92
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Oak Street
10
Continue on IA 92
8.8 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 92
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
12
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218 Business
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
US 218 Business
Exit 45
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
15
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
46 mi
·
53 min
·
US 34; IA 163
16
Take the exit onto US 34
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 34
Toward US 34
17
Turn left onto US 34
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 34
18
Turn right onto US 34 Business
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Roemer Avenue
19
Continue on US 34 Business
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
20
Turn right onto South Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
South Jefferson Street
21
Turn left onto East Fourth Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Fourth Street
22
Arrive at destination
West Fourth Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a one-day trip of under 3 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning allows ample daylight to complete the 134-mile journey. While there's one noted stop, consider breaking up the drive on US 34, especially during that 47.6-mile stretch, for a quick stretch or to grab a snack. The fuel cost is estimated at $21, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before departing Davenport to avoid an early stop. Keep an eye out for changes in speed limits as you transition between different road types.
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 66.9 miles from Davenport, IA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.6 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.9 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ottumwa, 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 133.8 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 34 for about 47.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 66.9 miles from Davenport, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 133.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Warren Street
Turn left onto Warren Street
Navigation decision point
5
44.9 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
IA 92
Take the exit onto IA 92 toward IA 92 west, CR G48 east: Grandview, Columbus Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 92 west, CR G48 east: Grandview, Colu...
4
62.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
83.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
US 218 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218 Business
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 45
5
133.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 45m in
|
East Fourth Street
Turn left onto East Fourth Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.92 one way
$41.84 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.97 | $45.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.75 | $51.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.54 | $59.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.1 | 0 | $14.05 | $6.42 |
| Efficient EV | 33.5 | 0 | $11.71 | $5.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.5 | 0 | $18.73 | $8.56 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Ottumwa, IA
Late night in Ottumwa on Sunday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
1 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 46m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 54% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a significant portion on US 34, which forms the backbone of this trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 47.6 miles on US 34, providing a good opportunity to settle in. As you progress, expect the road character to change, moving from potentially more urban-influenced roads near Davenport to more open, rural landscapes as you head toward Ottumwa. This variation keeps the drive from becoming monotonous, blending faster highway segments with potentially slower local roads.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.6 mi on US 34.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Warren Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 133.8 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 0.4 miles (Warren Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.9 miles (IA 92): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Davenport, IA and Ottumwa, IA, road signs point toward Cr G48 East: Grandview and Columbus Junction.
Cr G48 East: Grandview
44.9 mi in
|
~54m
|
via IA 92
Columbus Junction
44.9 mi in
|
~54m
|
via IA 92
About the Cities
Arriving in Ottumwa, IA
Full guide →Ottumwa is a city in South Central Iowa.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 133.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.6 miles on US 34. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Ottumwa, 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 0.4 miles (Warren Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.9 miles (IA 92): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ottumwa, IA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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