Origin
Davenport, IA
Late night in Davenport on Sunday
Local time
5:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Davenport, IA to Palo, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 51m
Distance
90.1 mi
145 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 44m
★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Davenport, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Palo, IA
Ivan Aguilar
Trip Overview
Davenport, IA to Palo, IA is 90.1 miles and takes about 1h 51m via US 6 and US 218, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest, specifically within Iowa, making it a straightforward journey. It's a highway-focused drive that should feel familiar to most drivers, with a significant portion on major roads. Given its relatively short distance and duration, it’s well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.1 miles from Davenport, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 6 | 51 mi | 56m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 16 mi | 17m |
| US 218 | 6 mi | 7m |
| Covington Road | 4 mi | 7m |
| IA 100 | 3 mi | 3m |
| West Kimberly Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Hickory Grove Road | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| 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 Palo, 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
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
US 218
Toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
12
Continue on IA 100
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
IA 100
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward Covington, Cedar Rapids
14
Turn left onto CR W36
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Covington Road
15
Turn right onto 1st Street
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Street
16
Turn right onto Vinton Street
85 ft
·
3 sec
·
Vinton Street
17
Arrive at destination
Vinton Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just under 2 hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive with plenty of time to spare, or even head out in the afternoon. There are no designated stops listed, so plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps around the 51-mile mark on US 6. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $14, and ensure you have enough to cover the 90.1 miles, especially if you plan any detours.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.1 miles from Davenport, IA, or about 55m 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 20 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.1 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palo, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Davenport, IA
This is one driving day of about 90.1 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Davenport, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 6 for about 51 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 45.1 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 81.5 — 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
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:...
5
81.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.09 one way
$28.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.47 | $30.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.34 | $34.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.89 | $39.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27 | 0 | $9.46 | $4.32 |
| Efficient EV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.88 | $3.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36 | 0 | $12.61 | $5.77 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Palo, IA
Late night in Palo on Sunday
Local time
5:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
23 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
1h 51m 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 drive is primarily on highways, with 67% of the route utilizing them. You'll experience a highway-focused profile for much of the 90.1 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 51 miles on US 6, so expect a good amount of time on this particular road. The Avenue of the Saints and US 218 also play key roles in getting you to your destination. This setup suggests a generally efficient, though not necessarily varied, driving experience.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 6 and Avenue of the Saints. You will hit about 13 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 Effort
5/10
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 90.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 58.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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 Palo, IA, road signs point toward Waterloo, Marion, Covington and Cedar Rapids.
Waterloo
58.9 mi in
|
~1h 11m
Marion
81.5 mi in
|
~1h 37m
Covington
85.3 mi in
|
~1h 42m
Cedar Rapids
85.3 mi in
|
~1h 42m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 90.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51 miles on US 6. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 58.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Palo, 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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