Origin
Dubuque, IA
Late night in Dubuque on Tuesday
Local time
4:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dubuque, IA to Bettendorf, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
73.8 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Bettendorf, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 73.8-mile drive from Dubuque to Bettendorf, Iowa, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just about 1 hour and 11 minutes. You'll primarily be navigating via US 61 South and I-74 East, with a stretch on US 67. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, this route is quite budget-friendly for its distance. The journey offers a practical way to travel within the Midwest region. Given its short duration, it’s a perfect option for a quick excursion or a segment of a larger Midwest adventure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 61 | 65.6 mi | 1h 17m |
| I 74 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| I 80 | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Central Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 12th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Grant Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 61
— 65.6 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and Bettendorf, IA.
1
Start on Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Central Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 189A
Toward US 61 South, US 151 South
3
Continue on US 61; US 151
66 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
US 61; US 151
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
5
Merge onto I 80; US 61
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 80; US 61
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 74 East: Bettendorf, Davenport
7
Merge onto I 74
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
I 74
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Toward US 67: US 67, Grant Street, State Street, Riverfront
9
Turn right onto US 67
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Grant Street
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
12th Street
11
Turn left
74 ft
·
3 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.9 miles from Dubuque, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 61 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.6 miles.
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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 73.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward US 61 South, US 151 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 189A
Toward US 61 South, US 151 South
5
68.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 74 East: Bettendorf, Davenport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 East: Bettendorf, Davenport
5
73.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward US 67: US 67, Grant Street, State Street, Riverfront
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 67: US 67, Grant Street, State Street...
6
73.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
US 67 / Grant Street
Turn right onto US 67 / Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
73.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.54 one way
$23.08 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.67 | $25.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.20 | $28.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.29 | $32.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.75 | $3.54 |
| Efficient EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.46 | $2.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.33 | $4.72 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Bettendorf, IA
Late night in Bettendorf on Tuesday
Local time
4:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
1h 29m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share indicating a focus on surface streets and main roads. The entire 73.8 miles will likely feel engaging rather than monotonous, as you'll be making frequent turns. There isn't a 'longest stretch' to speak of, suggesting a continuous need for attention and navigation. This type of driving experience is more akin to navigating through towns and cities rather than open highway cruising, keeping you actively involved in the journey.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.6 mi on US 61.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 61 and I 74. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
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 73.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
992 ft
569 ft
Total Climb
536 ft
Total Descent
590 ft
Highest Point
992 ft
~10.5 mi in
Elevation Range
424 ft
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.
On the drive from Dubuque, IA to Bettendorf, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Davenport along the way.
Davenport
68.4 mi in
|
~1h 21m
About the Cities
Starting in Dubuque, IA
Full guide →Dubuque, founded in 1833, is the oldest city in Iowa. A port on the upper Mississippi River, it is situated along scenic bluffs facing the river, and has its roots in a mining and trading settlement established in the area by Quebec-born entrepreneur Julien Dubuque in 1788. The city's population is 57,686 (2000 Census), and the estimated population of the Dubuque metropolitan area is 93,072.
Arriving in Bettendorf, IA
Full guide →Bettendorf is one of the Quad Cities, in Eastern 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 1h 29m. Total distance: 73.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.6 miles on US 61. 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 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bettendorf, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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