The drive from Bettendorf, IA to Independence, IA covers 123.2 miles and takes about 2h 25m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, Avenue of the Saints, Jamestown Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57.5 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.26 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
61.6 miles from Bettendorf, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 123.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The drive from Bettendorf, IA to Independence, IA covers 123.2 miles and takes about 2h 25m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 57.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 12th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 25m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 63.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|12th Street
Turn right onto 12th Street
Navigation decision point
5
63.5 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
6
63.9 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar...
5
107.3 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward IA 150: Independence, Vinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 150: Independence, Vinton
5
123.2 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|5th Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Southeast
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bettendorf, IA and Independence, IA, road signs point toward Waterloo and Vinton.
Waterloo
63.9 mi in|~1h 13m
Vinton
107.3 mi in|~2h 3m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
57.5 mi
1h 3m
Avenue of the Saints
42.8 mi
48m
Jamestown Avenue
10.4 mi
14m
I 74
4.4 mi
5m
31st Avenue
3.6 mi
4m
3rd Avenue Southeast
1.4 mi
2m
Kimberly Road
1 mi
2m
Middle Road
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 57.5 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bettendorf, IA and Independence, 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
Continue on Kimberly Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Kimberly Road
4
Turn right onto Middle Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Middle Road
5
Turn left
0.2 mi·24 sec
6
Merge onto I 74; US 6
4.4 mi·5 min·I 74; US 6
7
Merge onto I 80
57 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 80
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
10
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
43 mi·48 min·Avenue of the Saints
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward IA 150: Independence, Vinton
12
Turn right onto IA 150
3.6 mi·4 min·31st Avenue
13
Continue on IA 150
10 mi·14 min·Jamestown Avenue
14
Continue on IA 150
1.4 mi·2 min·3rd Avenue Southeast
15
Turn right onto IA 150; CR D22
0.1 mi·15 sec·1st Street East
16
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Southeast
42 ft·1 sec·5th Avenue Southeast
17
Arrive at destination
5th Avenue Southeast
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 61.6 miles from Bettendorf, IA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.5 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 27 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.6 miles or 1h 11m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Independence, 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 123.2 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Bettendorf, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 57.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 61.6 mi from Bettendorf, IA
· 1h 11m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.26 one way
$38.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.15
$42.30
premium
$4.89
$23.71
$47.42
diesel
$5.61
$27.20
$54.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37
0
$12.94
$5.91
Efficient EV
30.8
0
$10.78
$4.93
EV Truck/SUV
49.3
0
$17.25
$7.88
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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
Bettendorf, IA
Afternoon
in Bettendorf on Friday
Local time
1:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Independence, IA
Afternoon
in Independence on Friday
Local time
1:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
18 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 25m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bettendorf, IA to Independence, IA covers 123.2 miles and takes about 2h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Avenue of the Saints, Jamestown Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61.6 miles from Bettendorf, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.26 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 2h 25m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 63.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Bettendorf, IA and Independence, IA, road signs point toward Waterloo and Vinton.
