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Trip from Burlington, IA to Bettendorf, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 44m

Distance

83.2 mi

134 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 37m ★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 40m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Des Moines County, Iowa, United States

Burlington, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Scott County, Iowa, United States

Bettendorf, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Burlington, IA to Bettendorf, IA is 83.2 miles and takes about 1h 44m via US 61, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Iowa, making it a straightforward and familiar journey. It's a highway-focused trip, so expect a good pace for most of the 83.2 miles. With a duration under two hours and a low fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick, no-fuss excursion. Consider it if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without a lot of fuss.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

41.6 miles from Burlington, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 83.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (85%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 85% of the journey taking place on major roads like US 61 and West River Drive. You'll encounter stretches where you can maintain a steady pace, including one continuous segment of 43.3 miles on US 61. While primarily highway, the experience is not necessarily monotonous; the road will likely transition and offer a consistent, efficient path. Expect a driving experience geared towards covering distance smoothly, rather than winding through small towns or scenic byways.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 61 is the longest continuous segment at about 43.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 61 and U.S. 61. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near US 61.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Burlington, IA to Bettendorf, IA is easy. At 1h 44m with 85% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (US 61): Navigation decision point; at 83.1 miles (12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 83.2 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

3 of 3 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
3.1 mi into trip | ~5m in | US 61

Turn right onto US 61

Navigation decision point

5
83.1 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in | 12th Street

Turn right onto 12th Street

Navigation decision point

5
83.2 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 61 43.3 mi 50m
U.S. 61 20.3 mi 22m
West River Drive 9.1 mi 16m
Douglas King Memorial Expressway 7.1 mi 8m
Sunnyside Avenue 1.8 mi 3m
Osborn Street 0.9 mi 1m
South Central Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
State Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 61 — 43.3 mi, about 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, IA and Bettendorf, IA.

1

Start on South Central Avenue

0.4 mi · 50 sec · South Central Avenue
2

Turn left onto Osborn Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · Osborn Street
3

Turn slight left onto Sunnyside Avenue

1.8 mi · 3 min · Sunnyside Avenue
4

Turn right onto US 61

43 mi · 50 min · US 61
5

Turn left onto US 61; IA 92

7.1 mi · 8 min · Douglas King Memorial Expressway
6

Continue on US 61

20 mi · 22 min · U.S. 61
7

Continue on US 61

9.1 mi · 16 min · West River Drive
8

Continue on US 67

0.1 mi · 15 sec · State Street
9

Continue on State Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · State Street
10

Turn right onto 12th Street

245 ft · 17 sec · 12th Street
11

Turn left

74 ft · 3 sec
12

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the short 1h 44m duration, you have plenty of flexibility with this drive from Burlington to Bettendorf. Aim to depart mid-morning to avoid any potential rush hour and allow yourself ample daylight. Since the longest stretch without a major turn is 43.3 miles on US 61, plan for a brief stop around the halfway point if you prefer, though it's not strictly necessary. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, keep an eye on your gauge, but refueling should not be a major concern. A practical tip: utilize the convenience of US 61 for a direct path, minimizing complexity.

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 41.6 miles from Burlington, IA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.3 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 18 miles or 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 41.6 miles or 50m 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 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bettendorf, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Burlington, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Burlington, IA

This is one driving day of about 83.2 miles and 1h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Burlington, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 61 for about 43.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 41.6 mi from Burlington, IA · 50m into the drive

city in and county seat of Muscatine County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Muscatine, IA

42 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

Newport, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Muscatine, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.6 miles from Burlington, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bettendorf, IA

The final approach into Bettendorf, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.01 one way

$26.01 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.28 $28.56
premium $4.89 $16.01 $32.02
diesel $5.61 $18.37 $36.74

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25 0 $8.74 $3.99
Efficient EV 20.8 0 $7.28 $3.33
EV Truck/SUV 33.3 0 $11.65 $5.32

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Burlington, IA

Morning in Burlington on Saturday

Local time

6:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bettendorf, IA

Morning in Bettendorf on Saturday

Local time

6:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

52°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

1 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

1h 44m 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 Burlington, IA to Bettendorf, IA covers 83.2 miles and takes about 1h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 61, U.S. 61, West River Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 41.6 miles from Burlington, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.01 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.

The drive from Burlington, IA to Bettendorf, IA is easy. At 1h 44m with 85% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (US 61): Navigation decision point; at 83.1 miles (12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 83.2 miles: Navigation decision point.

The route from Burlington, IA to Bettendorf, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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