Connecting Oskaloosa to Bettendorf, this 144.2-mile journey across the Iowa landscape typically takes about 2 hours and 52 minutes. Given the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $22 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. The trip transitions you from the Oskaloosa area toward the eastern edge of the state, maintaining a consistent Midwestern feel throughout the drive. Because it is a straightforward highway-focused route, it is a practical choice for travelers looking for efficiency and reliability.
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
72.1 miles from Oskaloosa, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
105.6 mi
1h 54m
East Market Street
20.7 mi
30m
North Market Street
11.7 mi
17m
I 74
4.3 mi
5m
South Main Street
0.5 mi
<1m
12th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Grant Street
0.1 mi
<1m
A Avenue East
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 105.6 mi, about 1h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oskaloosa, IA and Bettendorf, IA.
1
Start on this road
56 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto IA 92
170 ft·7 sec·A Avenue East
3
Turn right onto US 63
12 mi·17 min·North Market Street
4
Continue on US 63
0.5 mi·46 sec·South Main Street
5
Turn right onto US 63
21 mi·30 min·East Market Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
7
Merge onto I 80
106 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 80
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·44 sec
Toward I 74 East: Bettendorf, Davenport
9
Merge onto I 74
4.3 mi·5 min·I 74
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward US 67: US 67, Grant Street, State Street, Riverfront
11
Turn right onto US 67
0.1 mi·17 sec·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.1 mi·39 sec·12th Street
13
Turn left
74 ft·3 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since the drive takes under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around traffic patterns. You will only need to account for one planned stop to break up the 144.2-mile trek, which is ideal for a quick stretch or a snack. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto I-80, as the long 105.6-mile stretch offers fewer opportunities to exit and refuel compared to local roads. Aim to time your departure to avoid peak commuter hours near Bettendorf to ensure a smooth arrival. By keeping your pace steady during that long interstate block, you can easily maintain your estimated 2-hour and 52-minute arrival time.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.1 miles from Oskaloosa, IA, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.6 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 32 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.1 miles or 1h 32m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bettendorf, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Oskaloosa, 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 Oskaloosa, IA
This is one driving day of about 144.2 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Oskaloosa, 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 105.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 144.2 — 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 92 / A Avenue East
Turn right onto IA 92 / A Avenue East
Navigation decision point
5
138.9 mi into trip|~2h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 74 East: Bettendorf, Davenport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 East: Bettendorf, Davenport
5
143.6 mi into trip|~2h 50m in
Take the exit toward US 67: US 67, Grant Street, State Street, Riverfront
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 67: US 67, Grant Street, State Street...
6
143.9 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|US 67 / Grant Street
Turn right onto US 67 / Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
144.2 mi into trip|~2h 52m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.54 one way
$45.09 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.75
$49.50
premium
$4.89
$27.75
$55.50
diesel
$5.61
$31.84
$63.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.3
0
$15.14
$6.92
Efficient EV
36.1
0
$12.62
$5.77
EV Truck/SUV
57.7
0
$20.19
$9.23
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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
Oskaloosa, IA
Night
in Oskaloosa on Saturday
Local time
11:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bettendorf, IA
Night
in Bettendorf on Saturday
Local time
11:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
22 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 52m 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 drive dominated by fast-paced travel, with 76% of your journey spent on highways. The route relies heavily on I-80, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 105.6 miles. You will begin and end your trip navigating local transitions via East and North Market Streets, but the core of the experience is defined by the steady rhythm of the interstate. This highway-focused character makes for a predictable, high-speed transit that minimizes technical turns. Once you merge onto the main artery, you can settle into a consistent pace for the vast majority of the time behind the wheel.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105.6 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and East Market Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 92 / A Avenue East.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 52m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 92 / A Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 138.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Oskaloosa is a small city in Mahaska County, Iowa. Oskaloosa is home to William Penn University, a private university, and Lake Keomah State Park which is four miles east of the city.
The longest stretch is about 105.6 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (IA 92 / A Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 138.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.6 miles: 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 Bettendorf, IA before heading back.
