Origin
Bettendorf, IA
Morning in Bettendorf on Thursday
Local time
11:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bettendorf, IA to Algona, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 29m
Distance
275.2 mi
443 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 16m
★
6 AM
5h 29m
8 AM
5h 56m
10 AM
5h 39m
12 PM
5h 36m
3 PM
5h 40m
5 PM
5h 55m
8 PM
5h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bettendorf, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Algona, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bettendorf, IA to Algona, IA covers 275.2 miles and takes about 5h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 12th Street, Kimberly Road, Middle Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.02 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
137.6 miles from Bettendorf, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 29m. Total distance: 275.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 29m drive with frequent turns across 275.2 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.
12th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 29m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bettendorf, IA to Algona, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 12th Street | — | — |
| Kimberly Road | — | — |
| Middle Road | — | — |
| I 380 | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| I-380 north | — | — |
| West Washington Expressway | — | — |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
12th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bettendorf, IA and Algona, IA.
1
Start on the route
75 ft
·
7 sec
·
the route
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
·
25 sec
6
Merge slight left
4.4 mi
·
5 min
7
Merge slight left
57 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 380, US 218, IA 27
9
Keep slight right to continue on I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
10
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
71 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
11
Keep slight right to continue on I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
12
Continue on West Washington Expressway
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
West Washington Expressway
13
Continue on Leo P Rooff Expressway
0.7 mi
·
52 sec
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
14
Continue on West Washington Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Washington Street
15
Continue on Leo P Rooff Expressway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
16
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
17
Keep slight right to continue on US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
18
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
83 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
19
Take the exit slight right toward I 35 Business, CR B35: Clear Lake, Mason City
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 35 Business, CR B35: Clear Lake, Mason City
20
Turn left onto 4th Avenue South
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Avenue South
21
Turn right onto South 8th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 8th Street
22
Turn left
39 mi
·
53 min
23
Turn left onto 210th Avenue
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Avenue
24
Turn right onto 210th Street
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
210th Street
25
Continue on East McGregor Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East McGregor Street
26
Turn right onto South Jones Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Jones Street
27
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 137.6 miles from Bettendorf, IA, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
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 61 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.6 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Algona, 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 275.2 miles and 5h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Bettendorf, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 137.6 mi from Bettendorf, IA · 2h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
138 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 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 137.6 miles from Bettendorf, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Algona, IA
The final approach into Algona, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Algona, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.02 one way
$86.05 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $47.24 | $94.48 |
| premium | $4.89 | $52.96 | $105.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.76 | $121.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.6 | 1 | $28.90 | $13.21 |
| Efficient EV | 68.8 | 0 | $24.08 | $11.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 110.1 | 1 | $38.53 | $17.61 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Algona, IA
Morning in Algona on Thursday
Local time
11:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
138 mi in
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
4 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
5h 29m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Algona, IA covers 275.2 miles and takes about 5h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 12th Street, Kimberly Road, Middle Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 137.6 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 $43.02 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 29m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bettendorf, IA to Algona, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bettendorf, IA to Algona, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Algona, IA
More trips to Algona, IA
Explore more options from Bettendorf, IA or browse trips ending in Algona, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Bettendorf, IA or Algona, IA on MapSof.net.