Sac City, IA to Davenport, IA is 272.6 miles and takes about 5h 18m via US 20 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest and offering a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day duration, it’s a manageable route for those looking to cover ground efficiently. Plan for a mostly highway experience with a single recommended stop.
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
136.3 miles from Sac City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
145.1 mi
2h 47m
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi
1h 11m
I 80
49.7 mi
54m
West Kimberly Road
3 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
US 6
1.5 mi
2m
Sierra Avenue
1.2 mi
1m
North 5th Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 145.1 mi, about 2h 47m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,943 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,357
Quietest
2 AM
~105 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sac City, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on CR D36
71 ft·9 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto North 5th Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North 5th Street
3
Continue on CR M54
1.2 mi·1 min·Sierra Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 20; US 71
145 mi·2 hr 47 min·US 20; US 71
5
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
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
8
Merge onto I 80
50 mi·54 min·I 80
9
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
10
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
11
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
12
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
13
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi·2 min·West Locust Street
14
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Gaines Street
15
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 14th Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Harrison Street
17
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
18
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 18m estimated drive time, leaving Sac City in the morning should allow you to reach Davenport with ample daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 145.1-mile stretch on US 20, as services might be less frequent in rural sections. The estimated fuel cost is $43, so budget accordingly before you depart.
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 136.3 miles from Sac City, IA, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.1 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 60 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.3 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 17m
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 Sac 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 Sac City, IA
This is one driving day of about 272.6 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Sac 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 US 20 for about 145.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 147.4 and 271.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
147.4 mi into trip|~2h 51m 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
212.3 mi into trip|~4h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
5
263.3 mi into trip|~5h 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
264.4 mi into trip|~5h 2m 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
271.6 mi into trip|~5h 15m in|West 14th Street
Turn left onto West 14th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.26 one way
$80.51 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$44.44
$88.88
premium
$4.72
$50.61
$101.23
diesel
$4.80
$51.47
$102.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.8
1
$28.62
$13.08
Efficient EV
68.2
0
$23.85
$10.90
EV Truck/SUV
109
1
$38.16
$17.45
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Sac City, IA
Late night
in Sac City on Sunday
Local time
1:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 6 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM 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
1:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM 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
3 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 18m 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 drive is primarily highway, with 72% of the 272.6 miles on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 145.1 miles on US 20 before transitioning to other routes. Expect a consistent driving environment with relatively few interruptions for the majority of the trip. The remaining portion will involve more local roads and potentially more frequent exits.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.1 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Avenue of the Saints. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 147.4 miles in near I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints.
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 272.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 147.4 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 212.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 263.3 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 18m. Total distance: 272.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 145.1 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 147.4 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 212.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 263.3 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 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 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.
