Origin
Bettendorf, IA
Afternoon in Bettendorf on Saturday
Local time
1:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bettendorf, IA to Fort Madison, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 5m
Distance
99.5 mi
160 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 56m
★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 10m
3 PM
2h 12m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
2h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bettendorf, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Madison, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bettendorf, IA to Fort Madison, IA covers 99.5 miles and takes about 2h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on James L Hodges Avenue, 140th Street, Grandview Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.6 miles on James L Hodges Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.56 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.8 miles from Bettendorf, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| James L Hodges Avenue | 27.6 mi | 33m |
| 140th Street | 20.3 mi | 22m |
| Grandview Avenue | 18 mi | 20m |
| Grant Street | 9.4 mi | 17m |
| 354th Avenue | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| Douglas King Memorial Expressway | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| 71st Street | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| Highway 61 | 1.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
James L Hodges Avenue
— 27.6 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bettendorf, IA and Fort Madison, IA.
1
Start on this road
74 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto 12th Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
12th Street
3
Turn left onto US 67
9.4 mi
·
17 min
·
Grant Street
4
Continue on US 61
20 mi
·
22 min
·
140th Street
5
Continue on US 61; IA 22; IA 92
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Douglas King Memorial Expressway
6
Turn right onto US 61; IA 92
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Grandview Avenue
7
Continue on US 61
28 mi
·
33 min
·
James L Hodges Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 61
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
71st Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 61
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 61
10
Continue on US 61
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
71st Street
11
Continue on US 61
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
354th Avenue
12
Take the exit onto US 61 Business
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
US 61 Business
13
Turn left onto US 61 Business
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
354th Avenue
14
Continue on US 61 Business
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
2nd Street
15
Turn slight right onto US 61 Business
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue H
16
Turn left onto Avenue I
139 ft
·
12 sec
·
Avenue I
17
Turn left
61 ft
·
4 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 49.8 miles from Bettendorf, IA, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.6 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 22 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.8 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Madison, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bettendorf, 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 Bettendorf, IA
This is one driving day of about 99.5 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Bettendorf, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on James L Hodges Avenue for about 27.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.8 miles from Bettendorf, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 99.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
12th Street
Turn right onto 12th Street
Navigation decision point
3
37 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
US 61; IA 92 / Grandview Avenue
Turn right onto US 61; IA 92 / Grandview Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
95 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
|
US 61 Business / 354th Avenue
Turn left onto US 61 Business / 354th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
99.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
|
Avenue I
Turn left onto Avenue I
Navigation decision point
5
99.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.56 one way
$31.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.08 | $34.16 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.15 | $38.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.97 | $43.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.45 | $4.78 |
| Efficient EV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.71 | $3.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.93 | $6.37 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Fort Madison, IA
Afternoon in Fort Madison on Saturday
Local time
1:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
21 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 5m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
99.5 mi in 2h 5m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.6 mi on James L Hodges Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 12th Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bettendorf, IA to Fort Madison, IA is easy. At 2h 5m with 9% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 37 miles (US 61; IA 92 / Grandview Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 95 miles (US 61 Business / 354th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 99.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (9%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.6 miles on James L Hodges Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 37 miles (US 61; IA 92 / Grandview Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 95 miles (US 61 Business / 354th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Madison, IA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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