This 119-mile journey from Independence, Iowa to Davenport, Iowa is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on I-80 and Avenue of the Saints, with a portion on Jamestown Avenue. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $19, making it an economical option. Given its relatively short distance and mixed driving profile, it's a straightforward route perfect for a quick getaway or a segment of a larger Midwest road trip. You won't need to plan for an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.5 miles from Independence, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
49.7 mi
54m
Avenue of the Saints
42.6 mi
47m
Jamestown Avenue
10.4 mi
14m
31st Avenue
3.8 mi
5m
West Kimberly Road
3 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
US 6
1.5 mi
2m
3rd Avenue Southeast
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 49.7 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on 5th Avenue Southeast
42 ft·9 sec·5th Avenue Southeast
2
Turn left onto IA 150; CR D22
0.1 mi·18 sec·1st Street East
3
Turn left onto IA 150
1.4 mi·2 min·3rd Avenue Southeast
4
Continue on Jamestown Avenue
10 mi·14 min·Jamestown Avenue
5
Continue on IA 150
3.8 mi·5 min·31st Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
7
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
43 mi·47 min·Avenue of the Saints
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
10
Merge onto I 80
50 mi·54 min·I 80
11
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
12
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
13
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
14
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
15
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi·2 min·West Locust Street
16
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Gaines Street
17
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 14th Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Harrison Street
19
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
20
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 25-minute drive, departing in the morning or early afternoon will give you plenty of daylight to complete the 119 miles. Since it's a short trip with an estimated fuel cost of $19, you won't need extensive planning for stops. However, it's wise to fuel up before you leave Independence, IA, especially since your longest stretch on I-80 is nearly 50 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstate stretches, and plan for a brief stop for a stretch or snack if needed.
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 59.5 miles from Independence, IA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.7 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.5 miles or 1h 12m 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 54m
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 Independence, 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 Independence, IA
This is one driving day of about 119 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Independence, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 49.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 118 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East
Turn left onto IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East
Navigation decision point
5
58.8 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
5
109.7 mi into trip|~2h 7m 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
110.9 mi into trip|~2h 9m 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
118 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|West 14th Street
Turn left onto West 14th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.60 one way
$37.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.43
$40.85
premium
$4.89
$22.90
$45.80
diesel
$5.61
$26.27
$52.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.7
0
$12.49
$5.71
Efficient EV
29.8
0
$10.41
$4.76
EV Truck/SUV
47.6
0
$16.66
$7.62
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Independence, IA
Late night
in Independence on Tuesday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Davenport, IA
Late night
in Davenport on Tuesday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 15 mph77% 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
23 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
2h 25m 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?
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with 43% of the drive on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 49.7 miles on I-80, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While I-80 provides efficient travel, the inclusion of Avenue of the Saints and Jamestown Avenue suggests you'll experience some variation in road type and speed as you transition between major thoroughfares and potentially more local roads. This blend means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate grind for the entire trip.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.7 mi on I 80.
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 early in the drive near IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East.
Driving Effort6/10
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 119 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: near the start (IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East): Navigation decision point; at 58.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 109.7 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 Independence, IA and Davenport, IA, road signs point toward Moline and Walcott.
Moline
109.7 mi in|~2h 7m|via US 6
Walcott
110.9 mi in|~2h 9m|via US 6
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 119 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.7 miles on I 80. 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.
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. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East): Navigation decision point; at 58.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 109.7 miles (US 6): 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 Davenport, IA before heading back.
