Lake City to Davenport is 252.1 miles and takes about 5 hours 9 minutes via 230th Street and I 80, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Midwest, staying entirely within Iowa as you travel from one side of the state to the other. Expect a drive that mixes familiar interstate cruising with more intricate local road navigation. It's a manageable distance for a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick transition between these two Iowa points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
126.1 miles from Lake City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
230th Street
77.2 mi
1h 29m
I 80
49.7 mi
54m
73rd Street
33.4 mi
38m
220th Street
23.9 mi
30m
360th Street
21.8 mi
30m
Avenue of the Saints
15.4 mi
16m
U Avenue
11.2 mi
15m
Indiana Avenue
4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
230th Street
— 77.2 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake City, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on North Center Street
45 ft·7 sec·North Center Street
2
Turn left onto IA 175
1.4 mi·2 min·East Main Street
3
Continue on IA 175
7.0 mi·9 min·360th Street
4
Continue on IA 4; IA 175
2.0 mi·3 min·5th Street
5
Continue on IA 4; IA 175
15 mi·20 min·360th Street
6
Turn right onto IA 144
4.0 mi·5 min·Indiana Avenue
7
Continue on IA 144
6.8 mi·9 min·U Avenue
8
Continue on IA 144
0.6 mi·1 min·Mc Intyre Street
9
Continue on IA 144
4.4 mi·5 min·U Avenue
10
Continue on IA 144
0.2 mi·25 sec·9th Street North
11
Turn left onto US 30
24 mi·30 min·220th Street
12
Continue on US 30
77 mi·1 hr 29 min·230th Street
13
Continue on US 30
33 mi·38 min·73rd Street
14
Take the exit onto US 218
0.4 mi·39 sec·US 218
Toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South: Iowa City, Airport
15
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
15 mi·16 min·Avenue of the Saints
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
17
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
18
Merge onto I 80
50 mi·54 min·I 80
19
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
20
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
21
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
22
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
23
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi·2 min·West Locust Street
24
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Gaines Street
25
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 14th Street
26
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Harrison Street
27
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
28
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration and turn-heavy nature, consider an early morning departure from Lake City to maximize daylight and avoid any potential rush hour near Davenport. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially when off the interstate, as services might be less frequent on local roads. A good strategy is to fill up before you leave Lake City or at the start of the longest stretch on 230th Street.
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 126.1 miles from Lake City, IA, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.2 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 55 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.1 miles or 2h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
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 Lake City, 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 Lake City, IA
This is one driving day of about 252.1 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Lake City, 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 230th Street for about 77.2 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 175.8 and 251.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
175.8 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|US 218
Take the exit onto US 218 toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South: Iowa City, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South:...
5
191.9 mi into trip|~3h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
5
242.8 mi into trip|~4h 50m 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
243.9 mi into trip|~4h 52m 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
251.1 mi into trip|~5h 6m in|West 14th Street
Turn left onto West 14th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.23 one way
$74.46 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$41.10
$82.20
premium
$4.72
$46.81
$93.61
diesel
$4.80
$47.60
$95.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.6
0
$26.47
$12.10
Efficient EV
63
0
$22.06
$10.08
EV Truck/SUV
100.8
1
$35.29
$16.13
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Lake City, IA
Late night
in Lake City on Sunday
Local time
1:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Partly Cloudy
W 3 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Davenport, IA
Late night
in Davenport on Sunday
Local time
1:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
64°F
Belle Plaine, IA
126 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
4 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
5h 9m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 route presents a "turn-heavy local drive" profile, with only 20% of the journey on highways like I 80. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on local roads, including stretches of 230th Street and 73rd Street. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 77.2 miles on 230th Street, so be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires your attention. The drive will likely feel more intimate and less like a monotonous interstate grind.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.2 mi on 230th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 175.8 miles in near US 218.
Driving Effort5/10
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 252.1 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 175.8 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 191.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 242.8 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,244 ft587 ft
Total Climb
106 ft
Total Descent
762 ft
Highest Point
1,244 ft
Elevation Range
656 ft
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 Lake City, IA to Davenport, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Davenport is one of the Quad Cities, in Eastern Iowa. This Midwestern city on the bank of the Mississippi River has seen a great deal of action throughout history. Today Davenport offers visitors interesting museums, activities and culinary experiences. Being one of the Quad Cities, a side trip to another city is easily doable - just follow the color coded signs!
Top landmarks
•Sacred Heart Cathedral — cathedral church for the Catholic Diocese of Davenport
•Lock and Dam No. 15 — lock and dam on the Mississippi River between Rock Island, Illinois and Davenpor...
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 9m. Total distance: 252.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (20%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.2 miles on 230th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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.
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. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 175.8 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 191.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 242.8 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Davenport, IA before the return drive.
