Traer, IA to Davenport, IA is 133 miles and takes about 2 hours 44 minutes via I 80, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest region. Expect a mix of highway and surface roads for this relatively short haul. It's a straightforward drive, ideal for a single-day excursion when you want to cover ground without a lengthy commitment.
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
66.5 miles from Traer, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
49.7 mi
54m
73rd Street
32.4 mi
37m
Avenue of the Saints
15.4 mi
16m
Holsted Street
15.1 mi
21m
State Highway 8
5.8 mi
7m
West Kimberly Road
3 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
58th Street
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 49.7 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Traer, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on US 63
73 ft·8 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn left onto IA 8
0.6 mi·1 min·2nd Street
3
Continue on IA 8
5.8 mi·7 min·State Highway 8
4
Continue on IA 8; IA 21
2.5 mi·3 min·58th Street
5
Turn right onto IA 21
15 mi·21 min·Holsted Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·46 sec
7
Merge onto US 30
32 mi·37 min·73rd Street
8
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
9
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
15 mi·16 min·Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
12
Merge onto I 80
50 mi·54 min·I 80
13
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
14
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
15
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
16
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
17
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi·2 min·West Locust Street
18
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Gaines Street
19
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 14th Street
20
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Harrison Street
21
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
22
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
This is a drive that can easily be completed in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon will give you ample daylight to reach Davenport. With a total duration of under 3 hours, you'll only need one brief stop for fuel or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Davenport, as services can become more spread out on the surface road sections.
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 66.5 miles from Traer, IA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.7 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 29 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.5 miles or 1h 23m 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 10m
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 Traer, 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 Traer, IA
This is one driving day of about 132.9 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Traer, 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 49.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 56.5 and 131.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
56.5 mi into trip|~1h 12m 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
72.7 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
5
123.6 mi into trip|~2h 26m 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
124.7 mi into trip|~2h 28m 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
131.9 mi into trip|~2h 42m in|West 14th Street
Turn left onto West 14th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.63 one way
$39.25 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$21.67
$43.33
premium
$4.72
$24.68
$49.35
diesel
$4.80
$25.09
$50.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.9
0
$13.95
$6.38
Efficient EV
33.2
0
$11.63
$5.32
EV Truck/SUV
53.2
0
$18.61
$8.51
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (65% 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 Jul 20, 2026
Origin
Traer, IA
Late night
in Traer on Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 14 mph45% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 20 at 1:08PM CDT until July 20 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 20 at 12:23PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Destination
Davenport, IA
Late night
in Davenport on Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Patchy Smoke
SW 10 mph49% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 20 at 1:08PM CDT until July 20 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 20 at 12:23PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
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
1 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
2h 44m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 43% of this route is highway, with the longest stretch on I 80 covering 50 miles. You'll transition from highway driving to surface roads, indicated by the change from interstate speeds to more local traffic patterns. Expect a more rural cruising feel once you leave the interstate, with a different pace of exits and intersections.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.7 mi on I 80.
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 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 56.5 miles in near US 218.
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 132.9 miles you will encounter 16 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 56.5 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 123.6 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
951 ft587 ft
Total Climb
98 ft
Total Descent
422 ft
Highest Point
951 ft
~19.2 mi in
Elevation Range
364 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Traer, IA and Davenport, IA, road signs point toward Airport, Moline and Walcott.
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 2h 44m. Total distance: 132.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.7 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 56.5 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 123.6 miles (US 6): 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 Davenport, IA before heading back.
