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Trip from Grundy Center, IA to Davenport, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 11m

Distance

161.7 mi

260 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
2h 59m ★
6 AM
3h 11m
8 AM
3h 35m
10 AM
3h 19m
12 PM
3h 17m
3 PM
3h 21m
5 PM
3h 33m
8 PM
3h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Grundy Center, IA, IA

Grundy Center, IA

Ethan Bianco

county seat of Scott County, Iowa, United States

Davenport, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 161.7-mile journey from Grundy Center to Davenport, Iowa, can be comfortably completed in about 3 hours and 11 minutes, making it an ideal one-day road trip. You'll primarily navigate via Avenue of the Saints, I-80, and US-20, with a moderate fuel cost estimated around $25. The drive offers a mixed experience, traversing the heart of the Midwest without significant regional changes. With only one recommended stop, this route is straightforward and efficient for a quick getaway or transit.

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

80.8 miles from Grundy Center, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Avenue of the Saints 64.7 mi 1h 11m
I 80 49.7 mi 54m
US 20 29.1 mi 33m
N Avenue 6.2 mi 8m
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
Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 64.7 mi, about 1h 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Grundy Center, IA and Davenport, IA.

1

Start on IA 14; IA 175

66 ft · 6 sec · G Avenue
2

Turn left onto IA 14

0.8 mi · 1 min · 4th Street
3

Continue on IA 14

6.2 mi · 8 min · N Avenue
4

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
5

Merge onto US 20

29 mi · 33 min · US 20
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27

65 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 80
8

Keep slight left at fork

1.2 mi · 2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
9

Merge onto I 80

50 mi · 54 min · I 80
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

Given the 3-hour duration, leaving Grundy Center in the morning allows ample time to reach Davenport with flexibility. Plan for your single recommended stop strategically, perhaps around the halfway point, to break up the 161.7 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 64.7-mile segment on Avenue of the Saints, as services might be less frequent. The $25 fuel cost is a good baseline, but always be prepared for minor fluctuations.

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 80.8 miles from Grundy Center, IA, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.7 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 36 miles or 43m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 80.8 miles or 1h 33m 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 31m

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 Grundy Center, 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 Grundy Center, IA

This is one driving day of about 161.7 miles and 3h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Grundy Center, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 64.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cedar Rapids, IA

81 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.

Popular next leg

Cedar Rapids, IA to Davenport, IA

83.8 mi · 1h 44m

Pacing Suggestions

Elk Run Heights, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cedar Rapids, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80.8 miles from Grundy Center, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.7 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Mantra Indian Cuisine & Spirits

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Davenport, Iowa

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 161.7

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+15634245500

Visit website

Red Lobster

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Coralville, Iowa

0.4 mi

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Coralville, Iowa

0.5 mi

Mantra Indian Cuisine & Spirits

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 161.7

Davenport, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+15634245500

Visit website

Red Lobster

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately mile 103.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193386400

Visit website

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately mile 103.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13193399100

Visit website

HuHot Mongolian Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 103.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193589100

Visit website

Cobble Hill

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour Expensive mile 80.8

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 4:30–9 pm

+13193663177

Visit website

Steak 'n Shake

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 103.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+13198006117

Visit website

Culver’s

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 103.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+13195458255

Visit website

Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 103.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+13193514543

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 103.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 80.8

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 103.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+31880109500

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.1 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 103.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 80.8

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

3.3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 150.1

Walcott, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 103.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 69.3

Center Point, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 36.5 and 160.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
36.5 mi into trip | ~44m in | I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
101.4 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 80 East: Davenport
5
152.3 mi into trip | ~2h 53m 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
153.5 mi into trip | ~2h 55m 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
160.6 mi into trip | ~3h 8m in | West 14th Street

Turn left onto West 14th Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.28 one way

$50.56 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 57 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $27.76 $55.51
premium $4.89 $31.12 $62.24
diesel $5.61 $35.70 $71.40

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48.5 0 $16.98 $7.76
Efficient EV 40.4 0 $14.15 $6.47
EV Truck/SUV 64.7 0 $22.64 $10.35

Gas CO2

57 kg

EV CO2

19 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 17, 2026

Origin

Grundy Center, IA

Late night in Grundy Center on Sunday

Local time

2:37 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Davenport, IA

Late night in Davenport on Sunday

Local time

2:37 AM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Mostly Clear

SE 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 9:20PM CDT until April 24 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 9:20PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

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

7 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 11m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a varied driving experience on this route, with 50% of your travel on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a solid 64.7 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, offering a chance to settle in. The 'mixed drive' profile suggests you'll transition between faster highway speeds and potentially more local road segments, keeping the journey engaging. This blend means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate grind for the entire trip.

50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.7 mi on Avenue of the Saints.

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 36.5 miles in near I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints.

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 161.7 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 36.5 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 152.3 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 Grundy Center, IA and Davenport, IA, road signs point toward Moline and Walcott.

Moline

152.3 mi in | ~2h 53m | via US 6

Walcott

153.5 mi in | ~2h 55m | via US 6

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 161.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 64.7 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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.

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 Davenport, 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 36.5 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 152.3 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Davenport, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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