Origin
Bettendorf, IA
Morning in Bettendorf on Thursday
Local time
11:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bettendorf, IA to Ottumwa, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 53m
Distance
137.2 mi
221 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 42m
★
6 AM
2h 53m
8 AM
3h 16m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bettendorf, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ottumwa, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
The drive from Bettendorf, IA to Ottumwa, IA covers 137.2 miles and takes about 2h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 12th Street, Grant Street, 140th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.45 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
68.6 miles from Bettendorf, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 137.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m 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 2h 53m drive with frequent turns across 137.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bettendorf, IA to Ottumwa, IA is easy. At 2h 53m 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 Ottumwa, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 12th Street | — | — |
| Grant Street | — | — |
| 140th Street | — | — |
| Douglas King Memorial Expressway | — | — |
| Grandview Avenue | — | — |
| IA 92 | — | — |
| Highway 92 | — | — |
| Oak Street | — | — |
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 Ottumwa, 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
Turn left onto Grant Street
9.4 mi
·
17 min
·
Grant Street
4
Continue on 140th Street
20 mi
·
22 min
·
140th Street
5
Continue on Douglas King Memorial Expressway
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Douglas King Memorial Expressway
6
Turn right onto Grandview Avenue
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Grandview Avenue
7
Take the exit slight right toward IA 92 west, CR G48 east: Grandview, Columbus Junction
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
IA 92 west, CR G48 east: Grandview, Columbus Junction
8
Turn right onto State Highway 92
8.1 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 92
9
Continue on Oak Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Oak Street
10
Continue on State Highway 92
8.8 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 92
11
Take the ramp left
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
12
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
13
Keep slight right
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
14
Take the exit right
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
15
Merge slight left
46 mi
·
53 min
16
Take the exit slight right toward US 34
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 34
17
Turn left
0.9 mi
·
1 min
18
Turn right onto Roemer Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Roemer Avenue
19
Continue on East Main Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
20
Turn right onto South Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
South Jefferson Street
21
Turn left onto East Fourth Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Fourth Street
22
Arrive at your 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.6 miles from Bettendorf, IA, or about 1h 26m 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 30 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.6 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ottumwa, 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 137.2 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 68.6 mi from Bettendorf, IA · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 68.6 miles from Bettendorf, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ottumwa, IA
The final approach into Ottumwa, 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 Ottumwa, 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
$21.45 one way
$42.90 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.55 | $47.10 |
| premium | $4.89 | $26.40 | $52.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.29 | $60.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.41 | $6.59 |
| Efficient EV | 34.3 | 0 | $12.00 | $5.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.9 | 0 | $19.21 | $8.78 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Ottumwa, IA
Morning in Ottumwa on Thursday
Local time
11:59 AM
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 53m 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 Ottumwa, IA covers 137.2 miles and takes about 2h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 12th Street, Grant Street, 140th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68.6 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 $21.45 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.
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 Ottumwa, IA is easy. At 2h 53m 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 Ottumwa, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bettendorf, IA to Ottumwa, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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