If you are planning to travel from West Union to Davenport, expect a straightforward journey covering 161 miles through the heart of the Midwest. The trip typically takes 3 hours and 24 minutes, making it a manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via US 61, US 20, and Washburn Avenue. Budgeting approximately $24 for fuel should cover the expenses for this trek. Because the entire route stays within Iowa, you can anticipate a consistent regional feel as you transition between these two communities. It is a practical, efficient drive that allows you to reach your destination without excessive fatigue.
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
80.5 miles from West Union, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 61
62.1 mi
1h 13m
US 20
46.9 mi
54m
Washburn Avenue
12.5 mi
17m
Lincoln Road
7.1 mi
9m
C Avenue
6.1 mi
8m
90th Street
5.1 mi
7m
K Avenue
5 mi
6m
Southwest Arterial
4.9 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US 61
— 62.1 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Union, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on North Vine Street
524 ft·28 sec·North Vine Street
2
Turn left onto US 18
0.3 mi·35 sec·West Bradford Street
3
Turn left onto IA 150
1.1 mi·1 min·State Highway 150
4
Continue on IA 150
7.1 mi·9 min·Lincoln Road
5
Continue on IA 150
1.1 mi·1 min·State Highway 150
6
Continue on IA 150
5.0 mi·6 min·K Avenue
7
Turn left onto IA 187
5.1 mi·7 min·90th Street
8
Turn straight onto IA 187
1.6 mi·2 min·Eisenhower Road
9
Continue on IA 187
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
10
Continue on IA 187
1.0 mi·1 min·Eisenhower Road
11
Continue on IA 187
3.1 mi·4 min·C Avenue
12
Enter roundabout onto IA 187
112 ft·1 sec·C Avenue
13
Continue on IA 187
3.0 mi·4 min·C Avenue
14
Continue on IA 187
13 mi·17 min·Washburn Avenue
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
16
Merge onto US 20
47 mi·54 min·US 20
17
Take the exit onto US 52
0.3 mi·42 sec·US 52
Toward US 52 South: Asbury, Bellevue
18
Enter roundabout onto US 52
106 ft·6 sec·Southwest Arterial
19
Continue on US 52
4.9 mi·6 min·Southwest Arterial
20
Turn left
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward US 61 South, US 151 South
21
Merge onto US 61; US 151
62 mi·1 hr 13 min·US 61; US 151
22
Continue on US 61 Business
1.7 mi·3 min·Welcome Way
23
Continue on US 61 Business
2.3 mi·5 min·Harrison Street
24
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
25
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Since this 161-mile route is easily completed in a single day, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. I recommend planning for one scheduled stop to break up the 3-hour and 24-minute travel time, especially if you are driving during peak traffic hours. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you head out; setting aside the $24 budget early ensures you won't need to hunt for gas stations during the longer stretches on US 61. Because the route is highway-heavy, maintain a steady speed and stay alert for changes in road signage as you navigate the transition onto Washburn Avenue. Taking these small steps will make your trip to Davenport smooth and stress-free.
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 80.5 miles from West Union, IA, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.1 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 35 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.5 miles or 1h 43m 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 45m
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 West Union, 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 West Union, IA
This is one driving day of about 161 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from West Union, 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 61 for about 62.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 94.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|IA 150 / State Highway 150
Turn left onto IA 150 / State Highway 150
Navigation decision point
4
14.6 mi into trip|~20m in|IA 187 / 90th Street
Turn left onto IA 187 / 90th Street
Navigation decision point
4
26.5 mi into trip|~37m in|IA 187 / C Avenue
Enter roundabout onto IA 187 / C Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
89.2 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|US 52
Take the exit onto US 52 toward US 52 South: Asbury, Bellevue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 52 South: Asbury, Bellevue
5
94.5 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Turn left toward US 61 South, US 151 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 61 South, US 151 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.17 one way
$50.34 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.64
$55.27
premium
$4.89
$30.98
$61.97
diesel
$5.61
$35.55
$71.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.3
0
$16.90
$7.73
Efficient EV
40.3
0
$14.09
$6.44
EV Truck/SUV
64.4
0
$22.54
$10.30
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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
West Union, IA
Afternoon
in West Union on Sunday
Local time
3:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Davenport, IA
Afternoon
in Davenport on Sunday
Local time
3:22 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
24 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
3h 24m 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?
This highway-focused drive relies on major thoroughfares for 69% of the journey, providing a steady pace for most of your travel. You will spend a significant portion of your time on US 61, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the route at 62.1 miles. While the road is designed for efficiency, you should be prepared for the transition between faster highway speeds and the local roads required to reach your final destination. The character of the drive is functional and direct, favoring speed and reliability over winding, technical backroads. Expect a consistent experience behind the wheel as you move across the state.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.1 mi on US 61.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 61 and US 20. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near IA 150 / State Highway 150.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 24m 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: at 0.4 miles (IA 150 / State Highway 150): Navigation decision point; at 14.6 miles (IA 187 / 90th Street): Navigation decision point; at 26.5 miles (IA 187 / C Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from West Union, IA to Davenport, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Bellevue along the way.
Bellevue
89.2 mi in|~1h 53m|via US 52
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 161 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 62.1 miles on US 61. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: at 0.4 miles (IA 150 / State Highway 150): Navigation decision point; at 14.6 miles (IA 187 / 90th Street): Navigation decision point; at 26.5 miles (IA 187 / C Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Davenport, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
