Origin
Charles City, IA
Night in Charles City on Friday
Local time
9:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 58m
Distance
186.9 mi
301 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charles City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Davenport, IA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Charles City, IA to Davenport, IA covers 186.9 miles and takes about 2h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Brantingham Street, Gilbert Street, South Grand Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.22 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
93.5 miles from Charles City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 186.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 2h 58m drive with frequent turns across 186.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Charles City, IA to Davenport, IA is easy. At 2h 58m 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 Charles City, IA to Davenport, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Brantingham Street | — | — |
| Gilbert Street | — | — |
| South Grand Avenue | — | — |
| Shadow Avenue | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| US 218 south | — | — |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | — | — |
| Washington Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between Charles City, IA and Davenport, IA.
Start on 4th Avenue
Continue on Brantingham Street
Turn left onto Gilbert Street
Continue on South Grand Avenue
Continue on Shadow Avenue
Take the ramp left
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
Take the exit slight right toward US 218 south: Waterloo
Continue on US 218 south: Waterloo
Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway
Continue on Washington Street
Keep slight right to continue on I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints
Take the exit slight right toward I 80
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Davenport
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
Continue on West Kimberly Road
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
Turn left onto West Locust Street
Turn right onto Gaines Street
Turn left onto West 14th Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto Harrison Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 41 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.5 miles or 1h 29m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Davenport, IA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Charles City, 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 Charles City, IA
This is one driving day of about 186.9 miles and 2h 58m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 93.5 mi from Charles City, IA · 1h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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.
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 93.5 miles from Charles City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$29.22 one way
$58.44 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.08 | $64.16 |
| premium | $4.89 | $35.97 | $71.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.27 | $82.53 |
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: 65.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.1 | 0 | $19.62 | $8.97 |
| Efficient EV | 46.7 | 0 | $16.35 | $7.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.8 | 0 | $26.17 | $11.96 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Charles City on Friday
Local time
9:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Davenport on Friday
Local time
9:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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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