Trip from Davenport, IA to Des Moines, IA

Drive Time

3h 8m

Distance

166 mi

267 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

Connecting Davenport to Des Moines via I-80, this 166-mile journey across the Iowa Midwest is a straightforward trek that typically takes about 3 hours and 8 minutes. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, making it an ideal choice for a quick trip or a weekend getaway. With fuel costs estimated at around $25, it remains an affordable route for most travelers. Because the drive is relatively short and efficient, you don't need to plan for an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Expect a reliable, highway-heavy experience that gets you from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.

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

83 miles from Davenport, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a classic highway-focused drive, as 95% of your travel occurs on major thoroughfares including I-80, US-6, and the John MacVicar Freeway. You will spend the bulk of your time on the interstate, including a significant 87.9-mile stretch that serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the trip. The route maintains a consistent, fast-paced character, favoring efficiency over winding secondary roads. While the terrain remains steady, you will notice the transition from the Mississippi River area toward the capital city as you navigate these high-speed lanes. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that rewards drivers looking for a predictable and direct path.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 14 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 87.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 6. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Marquette Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 8m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Marquette Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (US 6 / West Kimberly Road): Navigation decision point; at 160.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

4

0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in | Marquette Street

Turn right onto Marquette Street

Navigation decision point

5

4.7 mi into trip | ~10m in | US 6 / West Kimberly Road

At end of road, turn left onto US 6 / West Kimberly Road

Navigation decision point

7

160.4 mi into trip | ~3h in

Take the exit toward I 235 West: Des Moines

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 137A Toward I 235 West: Des Moines

8

165 mi into trip | ~3h 6m in

Take the exit toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 8B Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, Ea...

8

165.3 mi into trip | ~3h 7m in

Keep slight right at fork toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Aven...

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 80	87.9 mi	1h 34m
US 6	64.9 mi	1h 11m
John MacVicar Freeway	4 mi	5m
West Kimberly Road	2.9 mi	4m
Hickory Grove Road	2.5 mi	5m
Marquette Street	1 mi	2m
West 4th Street	0.7 mi	1m
West Locust Street	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 80 — 87.9 mi, about 1h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Davenport, IA and Des Moines, IA.

1

Start on West 4th Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · West 4th Street

2

Turn right onto Marquette Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · Marquette Street

3

Turn left onto US 6 Hist

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Locust Street

4

Turn slight right onto US 6 Hist

2.5 mi · 5 min · Hickory Grove Road

5

At end of road, turn left onto US 6

2.9 mi · 4 min · West Kimberly Road

6

Take the ramp onto US 6

65 mi · 1 hr 11 min · US 6

7

Continue on I 80

88 mi · 1 hr 34 min · I 80

Use the none lane.

8

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 137A Toward I 235 West: Des Moines Use the slight left lane.

9

Continue on John MacVicar Freeway

4.0 mi · 5 min · John MacVicar Freeway

Toward I 235 West: Des Moines Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Exit 8B Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village Use the slight right lane.

11

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 44 sec

Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue Use the slight right lane.

12

Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue

0.3 mi · 34 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue

13

Turn left onto East University Avenue

100 ft · 8 sec · East University Avenue

14

Arrive at destination

East University Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a manageable 166-mile route, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid potential congestion. You should plan for one scheduled stop to stretch your legs and refuel, which keeps the 3-hour journey comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before hitting that long 87.9-mile stretch on I-80 to ensure you have enough gas to avoid mid-stretch stops. Because the route relies heavily on major arteries, check local traffic reports for the John MacVicar Freeway as you near your destination in Des Moines. Embracing this as a single-day trip allows you to maximize your time once you arrive, rather than spending your energy on unnecessary overnight logistics.

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 83 miles from Davenport, IA, or about 1h 37m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.9 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 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 83 miles or 1h 37m 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 34m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Davenport, 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 Davenport, IA

This is one driving day of about 166 miles and 3h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Davenport, 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 87.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 83 mi from Davenport, IA · 1h 37m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Iowa City, IA

83 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

Cedar Rapids, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cedar Rapids, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 83 miles from Davenport, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.9 miles.

Arriving in Des Moines, IA

The final approach into Des Moines, 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 Des Moines, 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

$25.21 one way

$50.43 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$27.80	$55.59
premium	$4.80	$31.34	$62.67
diesel	$5.64	$36.88	$73.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 58.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	49.8	$17.43	$7.97
Efficient EV	41.5	$14.52	$6.64
EV Truck/SUV	66.4	$23.24	$10.62

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

19 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Davenport, IA

Afternoon in Davenport on Sunday

Local time

2:20 PM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Des Moines, IA

Afternoon in Des Moines on Sunday

Local time

2:20 PM

CDT

Current temp

44°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

7 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 8m 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 Davenport, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 166 miles and takes about 3h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 80, US 6, John MacVicar Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 83 miles from Davenport, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.21 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 8m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Marquette Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (US 6 / West Kimberly Road): Navigation decision point; at 160.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Davenport, IA to Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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