The drive from Bettendorf, IA to Le Mars, IA covers 358.2 miles and takes about 7h 1m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, I 80, Highway 20 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 231 miles on Avenue of the Saints.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $56.00 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
179.1 miles from Bettendorf, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 24m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 1m. Total distance: 358.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 1m drive with frequent turns across 358.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 231 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 12th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 358.2 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: near the start (12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Middle Road): Navigation decision point; at 63.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 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
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|Middle Road
Turn right onto Middle Road
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...
4
135.3 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
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.
On the drive from Bettendorf, IA to Le Mars, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo along the way.
Waterloo
63.9 mi in|~1h 13m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
231 mi
4h 23m
I 80
57.5 mi
1h 3m
Highway 20
19 mi
22m
State Highway 140
11 mi
15m
160th Street
6.4 mi
7m
Lee Avenue
5.4 mi
7m
State Highway 3
4.7 mi
6m
I 74
4.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 231 mi, about 4h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bettendorf, IA and Le Mars, 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
71 mi·1 hr 18 min·Avenue of the Saints
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
160 mi·3 hr 4 min·Avenue of the Saints
12
Continue on US 20
6.4 mi·7 min·160th Street
13
Continue on US 20
1.9 mi·2 min·United States Highway 20
14
Continue on US 20
19 mi·22 min·Highway 20
15
Turn right onto L21
5.4 mi·7 min·Lee Avenue
16
Continue on Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi·2 min·Shamrock Avenue
17
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi·2 min·320th Street
18
Turn right onto IA 140
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 140
19
Turn left onto CR C38
2.0 mi·2 min·CR C38
20
Continue on CR C38
2.0 mi·2 min·210th Street
21
Continue on CR C38
1.0 mi·1 min·CR C38
22
Turn right onto County Road K64
4.0 mi·5 min·County Road K64
23
Turn left onto IA 3
4.7 mi·6 min·State Highway 3
24
Continue on IA 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Lincoln Street Northeast
25
Continue on IA 3
0.1 mi·18 sec·5th Avenue Northeast
26
Turn right onto 1st Street Northeast
0.3 mi·58 sec·1st Street Northeast
27
Arrive at destination
1st Street Northeast
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 179.1 miles from Bettendorf, IA, or about 3h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 231 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 79 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 179.1 miles or 3h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Le Mars, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bettendorf, IA
This is one driving day of about 358.2 miles and 7h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Bettendorf, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 231 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 179.1 mi from Bettendorf, IA
· 3h 24m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
107.5
1
$37.61
$17.19
Efficient EV
89.6
1
$31.34
$14.33
EV Truck/SUV
143.3
1
$50.15
$22.92
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Morning
in Bettendorf on Friday
Local time
7:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Le Mars, IA
Morning
in Le Mars on Friday
Local time
7:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 1m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Le Mars, IA covers 358.2 miles and takes about 7h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, I 80, Highway 20. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 179.1 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 $56.00 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 358.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Middle Road): Navigation decision point; at 63.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Bettendorf, IA to Le Mars, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
