Connecting Waterloo to Davenport, this 134.5-mile journey across the Iowa Midwest is an efficient trip that clocks in at approximately 2 hours and 39 minutes. You will primarily navigate a mix of the Avenue of the Saints, I-380, and I-80 to reach your destination. Because the total travel time is under three hours, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $20 on fuel for the trek, making it a very budget-friendly option for your schedule. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick getaway, the straightforward nature of these roads keeps the planning process simple and stress-free.
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
67.2 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi
1h 11m
I 80
49.7 mi
54m
I 380
6.5 mi
7m
West Kimberly Road
3 mi
4m
Washington Street
2.7 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
US 6
1.5 mi
2m
West Locust Street
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 64.7 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
76 ft·6 sec·West 4th Street
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
2.7 mi·4 min·Washington Street
3
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
6.5 mi·7 min·I 380
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
4
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
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
6
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
7
Merge onto I 80
50 mi·54 min·I 80
8
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
9
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
10
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
11
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
12
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi·2 min·West Locust Street
13
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Gaines Street
14
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 14th Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Harrison Street
16
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
17
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to depart whenever it best suits your plans. I recommend planning for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs, as the 134.5-mile distance can feel repetitive without a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $20 estimate is based on average consumption, and having a buffer is always wise. Given the mix of major interstates like I-80 and regional highways, stay alert for changing speed limits as you approach urban areas near Davenport. Because your longest stretch is nearly 65 miles, make sure you are comfortable with the pacing of the Avenue of the Saints before you commit to the full route.
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 67.2 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.7 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 30 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.2 miles or 1h 16m 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 4m
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 Waterloo, 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 Waterloo, IA
This is one driving day of about 134.5 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Waterloo, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 64.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 126.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.7 mi into trip|~4m in|I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids,...
6
9.3 mi into trip|~12m 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
74.2 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
5
125.1 mi into trip|~2h 21m 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
126.3 mi into trip|~2h 23m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.03 one way
$42.06 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.09
$46.17
premium
$4.89
$25.88
$51.77
diesel
$5.61
$29.70
$59.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.4
0
$14.12
$6.46
Efficient EV
33.6
0
$11.77
$5.38
EV Truck/SUV
53.8
0
$18.83
$8.61
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Waterloo, IA
Night
in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Davenport, IA
Night
in Davenport on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
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
2h 39m 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 mixed driving experience as you transition between different types of infrastructure on your way to Davenport. With a highway share of 43%, you will encounter a blend of faster interstate segments and standard roadway travel. Your longest uninterrupted stint behind the wheel will be a 64.7-mile stretch along the Avenue of the Saints, which serves as the primary backbone of your trip. The road personality shifts as you move from the regional flow of the Avenue of the Saints onto the more heavily trafficked I-380 and I-80 corridors. You should be prepared for varying traffic densities as you navigate these different road classifications.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.7 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 380.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 134.5 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 2.7 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waterloo, IA and Davenport, IA, road signs point toward Moline and Walcott.
Moline
125.1 mi in|~2h 21m|via US 6
Walcott
126.3 mi in|~2h 23m|via US 6
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 39m. Total distance: 134.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m 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 64.7 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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 2.7 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Davenport, IA before heading back.
