Origin
Bettendorf, IA
Afternoon in Bettendorf on Sunday
Local time
3:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bettendorf, IA to Charles City, IA
Drive Time
3h 39m
Distance
188.5 mi
303 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 27m
★
6 AM
3h 40m
8 AM
4h 5m
10 AM
3h 49m
12 PM
3h 46m
3 PM
3h 50m
5 PM
4h 4m
8 PM
3h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bettendorf, IA
Esmerald Heqimaj
Charles City, IA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
The drive from Bettendorf, IA to Charles City, IA covers 188.5 miles and takes about 3h 39m 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 $28.63 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
94.2 miles from Bettendorf, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 39m drive with frequent turns across 188.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Bettendorf, IA to Charles City, IA is easy. At 3h 39m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bettendorf, IA to Charles City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 12th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Kimberly Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Middle Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 380 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Avenue of the Saints | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-380 north | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Washington Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
12th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bettendorf, IA and Charles City, 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
41 mi
·
47 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
19
Take the exit slight right toward US 18 East, US 218 Business, CR T64: Charles City, New Hampton
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
US 18 East, US 218 Business, CR T64: Charles City, New Hampton
20
Turn right onto Shadow Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Shadow Avenue
21
Continue on South Grand Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Grand Avenue
22
Continue on Gilbert Street
384 ft
·
15 sec
·
Gilbert Street
23
Turn right onto Brantingham Street
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Brantingham Street
24
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 94.2 miles from Bettendorf, IA, or about 1h 49m 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.2 miles or 1h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charles City, 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 188.5 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 94.2 mi from Bettendorf, IA · 1h 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
94 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 94.2 miles from Bettendorf, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Charles City, IA
The final approach into Charles City, 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 Charles City, 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
$28.63 one way
$57.26 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $31.56 | $63.13 |
| premium | $4.80 | $35.58 | $71.17 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $41.88 | $83.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.6 | 0 | $19.79 | $9.05 |
| Efficient EV | 47.1 | 0 | $16.49 | $7.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.4 | 0 | $26.39 | $12.06 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Destination
Charles City, IA
Afternoon in Charles City on Sunday
Local time
3:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 39m 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 Charles City, IA covers 188.5 miles and takes about 3h 39m 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 94.2 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 $28.63 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Bettendorf, IA to Charles City, IA is easy. At 3h 39m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bettendorf, IA to Charles City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bettendorf, IA to Charles City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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