Trip from Davenport, IA to Marshalltown, IA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 52m

Distance

144.6 mi

233 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

2h 42m ★

6 AM

2h 53m

8 AM

3h 15m

10 AM

3h 0m

12 PM

2h 58m

3 PM

3h 2m

5 PM

3h 14m

8 PM

2h 46m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

This 144.6-mile drive from Davenport, IA to Marshalltown, IA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 52 minutes. Expect a fuel cost of around $23 for this journey through the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes US 6 and US 218, with a portion also following the historic Lincoln Highway, offering a mixed driving experience. With only one recommended stop, this trip is straightforward and efficient, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a relatively quick transit between these Iowa cities.

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

72.3 miles from Davenport, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 144.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (59%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This drive offers a mixed experience, with 59% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 51 miles on US 6, providing a good opportunity to settle in. The route transitions between more direct highway segments and potentially slower local road sections as you navigate through Iowa's heartland. This blend means you'll experience varying speeds and road conditions, keeping the drive engaging without being overly demanding.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 6 is the longest continuous segment at about 51 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Marquette Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 52m drive. You will face about 12 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 58.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 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

5

58.6 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in

Take the exit toward I 380, US 218, IA 27

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

Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27

6

58.9 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar...

5

75.5 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in | US 218

Take the exit onto US 218 toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama

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

Toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North:...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Davenport, IA to Marshalltown, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo along the way.

Waterloo

58.9 mi in | ~1h 11m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 6	51 mi	56m
US 218	33.7 mi	39m
Lincoln Highway	31.8 mi	36m
Avenue of the Saints	16 mi	17m
West Kimberly Road	2.9 mi	4m
Hickory Grove Road	2.5 mi	5m
South Center Street	2.3 mi	3m
Marquette Street	1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: US 6 — 51 mi, about 56m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Davenport, IA and Marshalltown, 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

51 mi · 56 min · US 6

7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 45 sec

Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27

8

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo

9

Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27

16 mi · 17 min · Avenue of the Saints

10

Take the exit onto US 218

34 mi · 39 min · US 218

Toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama

11

Continue on US 30

32 mi · 36 min · Lincoln Highway

12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec

13

Turn right onto IA 14

2.3 mi · 3 min · South Center Street

14

Turn right onto IA 14

0.3 mi · 29 sec · East Anson Street

15

Turn left onto IA 14

0.8 mi · 1 min · South 3rd Avenue

16

Arrive at destination

IA 14

Trip Plan

Given the 2 hour and 52 minute duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. You can depart Davenport in the morning and arrive in Marshalltown by lunchtime, allowing for flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest uninterrupted stretch is 51 miles on US 6, and it's always wise to plan your stops. With a budget of approximately $23 for fuel, this is an economical option for a quick hop within Iowa.

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 72.3 miles from Davenport, IA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51 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 32 miles or 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 72.3 miles or 1h 26m 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 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marshalltown, 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 144.6 miles and 2h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 US 6 for about 51 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 72.3 mi from Davenport, IA · 1h 26m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

North Liberty, IA

72 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

Tipton, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

North Liberty, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72.3 miles from Davenport, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Marshalltown, IA

The final approach into Marshalltown, 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 Marshalltown, 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

$22.61 one way

$45.21 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$24.82	$49.64
premium	$4.89	$27.83	$55.65
diesel	$5.61	$31.93	$63.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	43.4	$15.18	$6.94
Efficient EV	36.2	$12.65	$5.78
EV Truck/SUV	57.8	$20.24	$9.25

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Davenport, IA

Afternoon in Davenport on Thursday

Local time

12:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Marshalltown, IA

Afternoon in Marshalltown on Thursday

Local time

12:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°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

3 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

2h 52m 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 Marshalltown, IA covers 144.6 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 6, US 218, Lincoln Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 72.3 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 $22.61 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.