Sergeant Bluff, IA to Bettendorf, IA is 363 miles and takes about 6h 38m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest region for its entirety. It's a straightforward, almost entirely highway route, making it a practical choice for a single-day drive. Consider this an efficient way to get from one side of Iowa to the other without significant detours.
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
181.5 miles from Sergeant Bluff, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
269.8 mi
4h 52m
I 29
69.3 mi
1h 14m
I 880
16 mi
17m
I 74
4.3 mi
5m
1st Street
0.5 mi
1m
E Street
0.2 mi
<1m
12th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Grant Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 269.8 mi, about 4h 52m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,933 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,316
Quietest
2 AM
~175 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
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 Sergeant Bluff, IA and Bettendorf, IA.
1
Start on 4th Street
121 ft·10 sec·4th Street
2
Turn left onto E Street
0.2 mi·57 sec·E Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto CR D38
0.5 mi·1 min·1st Street
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 29 SouthUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 29
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·I 29
6
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 71Toward I 880 East: Des Moines
7
Continue on I 880
16 mi·17 min·I 880
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·43 sec
Exit 16AToward I 80 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 80
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 80
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
161 mi·2 hr 54 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·44 sec
Toward I 74 East: Bettendorf, Davenport
13
Merge onto I 74
4.3 mi·5 min·I 74
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward US 67: US 67, Grant Street, State Street, Riverfront
15
Turn right onto US 67
0.1 mi·17 sec·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.1 mi·39 sec·12th Street
17
Turn left
74 ft·3 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For a 6.5-hour drive, leaving Sergeant Bluff in the morning is ideal to ensure you arrive in Bettendorf before dark, especially if you want to stop for a meal. Since the longest stretch without a major road change is nearly 270 miles on I 80, plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly. Consider a mid-drive break around the halfway point, which falls within that long I 80 segment. The $55 fuel estimate is based on current average prices, so keep an eye on that as you plan.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 181.5 miles from Sergeant Bluff, IA, or about 3h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 269.8 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.5 miles or 3h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 30m
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 Sergeant Bluff, 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 Sergeant Bluff, IA
This is one driving day of about 363 miles and 6h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sergeant Bluff, 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 269.8 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 0.7 and 362.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in
Turn left toward I 29 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 29 South
8
87.1 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16A
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
9
182.7 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
197.2 mi into trip|~3h 35m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
362.8 mi into trip|~6h 37m in|US 67 / Grant Street
Turn right onto US 67 / Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.61 one way
$107.21 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$59.18
$118.36
premium
$4.72
$67.40
$134.80
diesel
$4.80
$68.54
$137.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.9
1
$38.12
$17.42
Efficient EV
90.8
1
$31.76
$14.52
EV Truck/SUV
145.2
1
$50.82
$23.23
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Sergeant Bluff, IA
Evening
in Sergeant Bluff on Saturday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Clear
SE 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:31AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:02PM CDT until July 18 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Bettendorf, IA
Evening
in Bettendorf on Saturday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:31AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:02PM CDT until July 18 at 6:00AM 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
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
6h 38m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 predominantly on interstates, with 99% of the 363 miles on highways. You'll experience a long stretch of 269.8 miles on I 80 before any significant change in road type. Expect a consistent highway experience with frequent exits and potential for merging traffic as you approach larger towns along the way.
99% 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: 269.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 363 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 87.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 182.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,344 ft569 ft
Total Climb
335 ft
Total Descent
859 ft
Highest Point
1,344 ft
~129.6 mi in
Elevation Range
775 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sergeant Bluff, IA and Bettendorf, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 38m. Total distance: 363 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 38m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 269.8 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 53 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 Bettendorf, 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. There are 53 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 87.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 182.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bettendorf, IA before the return drive.
