Davenport to Story City is 189.3 miles and takes about 3h 43m via Lincoln Highway and US 218, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically crossing Iowa. It's a straightforward, single-day drive that offers a good mix of highway cruising and surface road travel. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct connection between these two Iowa points without extensive detours.
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
94.7 miles from Davenport, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
65.7 mi
1h 16m
US 6
51 mi
56m
US 218
33.7 mi
39m
Avenue of the Saints
16 mi
17m
I 35
12.1 mi
13m
West Kimberly Road
2.9 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
Broad Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 65.7 mi, about 1h 16m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,502 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~144 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 39 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 Story 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
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
66 mi·1 hr 16 min·Lincoln Highway
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
13
Merge onto I 35
12 mi·13 min·I 35
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward Story City
15
Turn left onto CR E15
427 ft·8 sec·115th Street
16
Continue on CR E15
1.3 mi·2 min·Broad Street
17
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
51 ft·2 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Pennsylvania Avenue
Trip Plan
With a drive time under four hours, this is easily a one-day trip, so you have flexibility on when to depart. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Story City with daylight to spare. The route has one recommended stop, so plan for a break roughly halfway through your 189.3-mile journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $33, and services might be less frequent on the surface road portions. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 65.7 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration before considering a break.
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 94.7 miles from Davenport, IA, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.7 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 42 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.7 miles or 1h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Story 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Davenport, IA
This is one driving day of about 189.3 miles and 3h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 Lincoln Highway for about 65.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 187.9 — 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
187.9 mi into trip|~3h 40m in|CR E15 / 115th Street
Turn left onto CR E15 / 115th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.47 one way
$62.95 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$34.28
$68.57
premium
$5.18
$38.63
$77.26
diesel
$5.35
$39.87
$79.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.8
0
$19.88
$9.09
Efficient EV
47.3
0
$16.56
$7.57
EV Truck/SUV
75.7
0
$26.50
$12.12
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 May 26, 2026
Origin
Davenport, IA
Evening
in Davenport on Wednesday
Local time
5:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Clear
S 0 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Story City, IA
Evening
in Story City on Wednesday
Local time
5:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Clear
S 7 to 13 mph3% chanceLive 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 43m 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 drive is about 51% highway, meaning you'll spend roughly half of your time on faster roads and the other half on surface streets. The longest continuous stretch on a higher-speed road is 65.7 miles on the Lincoln Highway. You'll notice the transition from more developed areas with frequent exits to more open, rural cruising as you progress. Expect a mixed driving experience that balances efficiency with a closer look at the landscape.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.7 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort5/10
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 189.3 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,044 ft587 ft
Total Climb
620 ft
Total Descent
200 ft
Highest Point
1,044 ft
~148.8 mi in
Elevation Range
456 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 Story 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 3h 43m. Total distance: 189.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.7 miles on Lincoln Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Story City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
