Origin
Creston, IA
Afternoon in Creston on Sunday
Local time
1:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Creston, IA to Bettendorf, IA
Drive Time
3h 51m
Distance
250.1 mi
403 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
Photo: Esmerald Heqimaj
Trip Overview
Traveling from Creston to Bettendorf covers 250.1 miles across the Iowa landscape. Expect a total drive time of approximately 3 hours and 51 minutes, making this an ideal one-day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will navigate a mix of local roads like North Elm Street and West Taylor Street before connecting to I-35 North. Budget roughly $37 for fuel to complete the journey. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the entire transit. This route is straightforward enough to manage in a single push, providing a practical way to cross the state.
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
125.1 miles from Creston, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .
Drive Character
This journey is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul. While you will utilize I-35 North, the route maintains a 0% highway share, emphasizing the navigation of local surface streets over long-distance freeway cruising. You should be prepared for frequent turns as you transition between North Elm Street, West Taylor Street, and the highway segments. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on North Elm Street is 0 miles, your focus will remain on active driving through local environments. Expect a dynamic experience that requires your full attention as the road conditions shift from town streets to regional transit paths.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Elm 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 51m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Creston, IA to Bettendorf, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Elm Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Taylor Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-35 north | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 74 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 67 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grant Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 12th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Elm Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Creston, IA and Bettendorf, IA.
1
Start on East Montgomery Street
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Montgomery Street
2
Turn left onto North Elm Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Elm Street
3
Turn left onto West Taylor Street
30 mi
·
42 min
·
West Taylor Street
4
Take the ramp right toward I-35 north: Des Moines
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
I-35 north: Des Moines
5
Merge slight left
53 mi
·
58 min
6
Keep slight left
161 mi
·
2 hr 54 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 74 East: Bettendorf, Davenport
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 74 East: Bettendorf, Davenport
8
Merge slight left
4.3 mi
·
5 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward US 67: US 67, Grant Street, State Street, Riverfront
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
US 67: US 67, Grant Street, State Street, Riverfront
10
Turn right onto Grant Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Grant Street
11
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
12th Street
12
Turn left
75 ft
·
3 sec
13
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Plan for a single stop to help break up the nearly four-hour duration of this 250.1-mile trek. Because this is a turn-heavy route, try to depart early in the day to navigate local intersections before peak traffic hours build up. Keep your fuel budget of $37 in mind, and consider topping off your tank before leaving Creston to avoid searching for stations during the more technical portions of the drive. The flexibility of a one-day schedule is your biggest advantage here, allowing you to pace your progress as needed. A helpful tip for this specific route is to double-check your turn-by-turn navigation frequently, as the reliance on local streets means you will need to be attentive to changing road names and signage.
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 125.1 miles from Creston, IA, or about 1h 55m 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 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.1 miles or 1h 55m 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 10m
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 Creston, 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 Creston, IA
This is one driving day of about 250.1 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Creston, 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 125.1 mi from Creston, IA · 1h 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
125 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 125.1 miles from Creston, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Bettendorf, 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
$37.99 one way
$75.98 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $41.88 | $83.75 |
| premium | $4.80 | $47.21 | $94.43 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $55.56 | $111.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75 | 0 | $26.26 | $12.00 |
| Efficient EV | 62.5 | 0 | $21.88 | $10.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100 | 1 | $35.01 | $16.01 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Bettendorf, IA
Afternoon in Bettendorf on Sunday
Local time
1:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
44°F
Indiana, IA
125 mi in
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
2 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
3h 51m 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 Creston, IA to Bettendorf, IA covers 250.1 miles and takes about 3h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Elm Street, West Taylor Street, I-35 north. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 125.1 miles from Creston, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.99 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.
This is a straightforward 3h 51m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Creston, IA to Bettendorf, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Creston, IA to Bettendorf, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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