Earlham, IA to Davenport, IA is 196.4 miles and takes about 3h 44m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points within Iowa on a predominantly highway-focused journey. Expect a straightforward drive with most of your time spent on the interstate. It's a practical route for moving between these two locations efficiently. Given the relatively short duration, it's best suited for a single-day trip.
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
98.2 miles from Earlham, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
185 mi
3h 21m
West Kimberly Road
3 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
US 6
1.5 mi
2m
West Locust Street
0.9 mi
2m
I Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Harrison Street
0.7 mi
1m
North Chestnut Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 185 mi, about 3h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Earlham, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on Northwest Locust Avenue
240 ft·12 sec·Northwest Locust Avenue
2
Turn right onto Northwest 2nd Street
388 ft·22 sec·Northwest 2nd Street
3
Turn left onto North Chestnut Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·North Chestnut Avenue
4
Continue on CR P57
0.3 mi·31 sec·County Road P57
5
Continue on CR P57
0.9 mi·1 min·I Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I-80 east: Des Moines
7
Merge onto I 80; US 6
18 mi·19 min·I 80; US 6
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
152 mi·2 hr 44 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 6
1.1 mi·2 min·US 6
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
11
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
12
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
13
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
14
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi·2 min·West Locust Street
15
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Gaines Street
16
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 14th Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Harrison Street
18
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
19
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of under 4 hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to give yourself ample time to arrive and settle in. The longest stretch on I 80 is 185 miles, so plan for a fuel stop before you embark or be aware of your tank's capacity. While there's only one recommended stop, the short duration means you have flexibility if you decide to take a break sooner. Keep an eye on your GPS as you approach Davenport, as you'll transition from I 80 to local roads like West Kimberly Road and Hickory Grove Road.
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 98.2 miles from Earlham, IA, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 185 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 43 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.2 miles or 1h 49m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Davenport, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Earlham, 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 Earlham, IA
This is one driving day of about 196.4 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Earlham, 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 I 80 for about 185 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 20.3 and 195.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
20.3 mi into trip|~24m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
34.8 mi into trip|~41m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
5
187.1 mi into trip|~3h 26m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock...
5
188.3 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, W...
5
195.4 mi into trip|~3h 41m in|West 14th Street
Turn left onto West 14th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.70 one way
$61.41 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$33.71
$67.43
premium
$4.89
$37.80
$75.59
diesel
$5.61
$43.36
$86.73
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: 68.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.9
0
$20.62
$9.43
Efficient EV
49.1
0
$17.19
$7.86
EV Truck/SUV
78.6
0
$27.50
$12.57
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Earlham, IA
Night
in Earlham on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Davenport, IA
Night
in Davenport on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
98 mi in
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
20 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
3h 44m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 95% of the route utilizing major roads. You'll spend the majority of your time on Interstate 80, covering a longest stretch of 185 miles without a significant change in road type. The profile is consistently highway, meaning you can expect relatively high speeds and limited interruptions. While you'll briefly use West Kimberly Road and Hickory Grove Road near your destination, the character remains that of a swift interstate transit.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 185 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and West Kimberly Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 20.3 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 44m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 20.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.8 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 187.1 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Earlham, IA and Davenport, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
Minneapolis
20.3 mi in|~24m|via I 80
Kansas City
20.3 mi in|~24m|via I 80
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 196.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 185 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 20.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.8 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 187.1 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Davenport, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
