Origin
Carter Lake, IA
Afternoon in Carter Lake on Monday
Local time
2:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carter Lake, IA to Davenport, IA
Drive Time
5h 43m
Distance
304.1 mi
489 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 30m
★
6 AM
5h 44m
8 AM
6h 10m
10 AM
5h 53m
12 PM
5h 50m
3 PM
5h 54m
5 PM
6h 9m
8 PM
5h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carter Lake, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Davenport, IA
Thomas Parker
Trip Overview
The drive from Carter Lake, IA to Davenport, IA covers 304.1 miles and takes about 5h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, US 6, West Kimberly Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 284.9 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.19 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
152.1 miles from Carter Lake, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h 43m highway drive covering 304.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and US 6. The longest continuous stretch is about 284.9 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 284.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 6. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near North 14th Street.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 304.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (North 14th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (I 80 Local; US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
2.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
North 14th Street
At end of road, turn left onto North 14th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
4.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
8.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 80 Local; US 6
Take the exit onto I 80 Local; US 6 toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
9
128 mi into trip
|
~2h 23m in
|
I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
142.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m in
|
I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Towns Along This Route
Between Carter Lake, IA and Davenport, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
Minneapolis
128 mi in
|
~2h 23m
|
via I 80
Kansas City
128 mi in
|
~2h 23m
|
via I 80
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 284.9 mi | 5h 8m |
| US 6 | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| West Kimberly Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| Hickory Grove Road | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| North 11th Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| I 80 Local | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| West Locust Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Gerald R Ford Expressway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 284.9 mi, about 5h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carter Lake, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on North 9th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North 9th Street
2
Turn right onto East Locust Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Locust Street
3
Turn left onto North 11th Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North 11th Street
4
Continue on Izard Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Izard Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto North 14th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North 14th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 480 East
7
Merge onto I 480
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Gerald R Ford Expressway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 6
Toward I 29 South: Kansas City
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto I 80 Local; US 6
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 Local; US 6
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 80; US 6
118 mi
·
2 hr 6 min
·
I 80; US 6
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi
·
16 min
·
I 80
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
152 mi
·
2 hr 44 min
·
I 80
Use the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit onto US 6
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 6
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
15
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
16
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
West Kimberly Road
17
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Hickory Grove Road
18
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Locust Street
19
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Gaines Street
20
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
West 14th Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harrison Street
22
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft
·
4 sec
·
West 4th Street
23
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
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 152.1 miles from Carter Lake, IA, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 284.9 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.1 miles or 2h 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 4h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Davenport, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carter Lake, 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 Carter Lake, IA
This is one driving day of about 304.1 miles and 5h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Carter Lake, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 284.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 152.1 mi from Carter Lake, IA · 2h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
152 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 152.1 miles from Carter Lake, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 284.9 miles.
Arriving in Davenport, IA
The final approach into Davenport, 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 Davenport, IA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.19 one way
$92.38 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
106 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $50.92 | $101.84 |
| premium | $4.80 | $57.41 | $114.82 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $67.56 | $135.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 91.2 | 1 | $31.93 | $14.60 |
| Efficient EV | 76 | 0 | $26.61 | $12.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 121.6 | 1 | $42.57 | $19.46 |
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Destination
Davenport, IA
Afternoon in Davenport on Monday
Local time
2:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 to 15 mph
28% chance
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
29 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
5h 43m 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 Carter Lake, IA to Davenport, IA covers 304.1 miles and takes about 5h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, US 6, West Kimberly Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 152.1 miles from Carter Lake, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.19 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 demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 304.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (North 14th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (I 80 Local; US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Carter Lake, IA and Davenport, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
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