Spanning 187.3 miles across the heart of the Midwest, this drive from Iowa Falls to Davenport is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 3 hours and 42 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable duration, you can easily tackle this route as a simple one-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $28 for fuel to cover the distance, making it a cost-effective way to traverse the state. By utilizing a combination of the Avenue of the Saints, US 20, and I-80, you gain a direct path between these two Iowa hubs. Whether you are heading east for business or leisure, this route provides a consistent and predictable travel experience.
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
93.7 miles from Iowa Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi
1h 11m
US 20
55.9 mi
1h 4m
I 80
49.7 mi
54m
Oak Street
5.1 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 Iowa Falls, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on Commercial Street
331 ft·11 sec·Commercial Street
2
Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·East Rocksylvania Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 65
5.1 mi·8 min·Oak Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward US 20 East
5
Merge onto US 20
56 mi·1 hr 4 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
For the smoothest experience, plan your departure to avoid peak traffic hours when merging onto I-80, as this will help you maintain a consistent pace. Since the route only requires one stop, you have plenty of flexibility to choose where you take your break based on your personal comfort. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the longer stretches, as the $28 estimate assumes steady driving conditions. Given the 187.3-mile total distance, try to time your single stop near the transition between the Avenue of the Saints and the interstate to maximize your efficiency. This approach keeps the journey feeling short and prevents fatigue during the nearly four-hour transit.
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 93.7 miles from Iowa Falls, IA, or about 1h 50m 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 41 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.7 miles or 1h 50m 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 Iowa Falls, 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 Iowa Falls, IA
This is one driving day of about 187.3 miles and 3h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Iowa Falls, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.7 and 179.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.7 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
6
62.1 mi into trip|~1h 15m 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
127.1 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
5
178 mi into trip|~3h 24m 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
179.1 mi into trip|~3h 26m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.28 one way
$58.56 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.15
$64.30
premium
$4.89
$36.04
$72.09
diesel
$5.61
$41.35
$82.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.2
0
$19.67
$8.99
Efficient EV
46.8
0
$16.39
$7.49
EV Truck/SUV
74.9
0
$26.22
$11.99
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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Iowa Falls, IA
Morning
in Iowa Falls on Sunday
Local time
9:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Davenport, IA
Morning
in Davenport on Sunday
Local time
9:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live 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
21 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 42m 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?
Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions between different types of thoroughfares as you navigate across the state. With roughly 57% of the trip spent on highways, you will encounter a blend of high-speed interstate travel and local roadway segments. The most significant portion of the journey is the 64.7-mile stretch along the Avenue of the Saints, which offers the longest uninterrupted drive of the route. As you shift from smaller roads onto the broader lanes of I-80, the pace of the drive changes, requiring you to adjust to heavier traffic patterns. It is an efficient, functional drive that prioritizes steady progress over technical curves.
57% 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 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in.
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 187.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 5.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 62.1 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 42m. Total distance: 187.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 42m 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 5.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 62.1 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Davenport, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
