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Trip from Davenport, IA to Harlan, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 2m

Distance

268.6 mi

432 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 49m ★
6 AM
5h 3m
8 AM
5h 30m
10 AM
5h 12m
12 PM
5h 10m
3 PM
5h 14m
5 PM
5h 29m
8 PM
4h 55m

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

county seat of Scott County, Iowa, United States

Davenport, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Iowa, USA

Harlan, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Davenport, IA to Harlan, IA covers 268.6 miles and takes about 5h 2m 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, US 59 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 184.7 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.99 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

134.3 miles from Davenport, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 2m. Total distance: 268.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 5h 2m highway drive covering 268.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and US 6. The longest continuous stretch is about 184.7 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 15 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 184.7 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.

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 5h 2m 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 174.5 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
174.5 mi into trip | ~3h 16m in | I 80

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 80 West: Omaha
5
257.1 mi into trip | ~4h 45m in

Take the exit toward US 59: Avoca, Harlan

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

Toward US 59: Avoca, Harlan
5
265.6 mi into trip | ~4h 57m in | 800th Street

Turn right onto 800th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 184.7 mi 3h 20m
US 6 64.9 mi 1h 11m
US 59 8.2 mi 11m
West Kimberly Road 2.9 mi 4m
Hickory Grove Road 2.5 mi 5m
12th Street 1.5 mi 2m
Linden Road 1.1 mi 1m
Marquette Street 1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 184.7 mi, about 3h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

102 mi · 1 hr 51 min · I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80

83 mi · 1 hr 29 min · I 80
Toward I 80 West: Omaha Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward US 59: Avoca, Harlan
10

Turn right onto US 59

8.2 mi · 11 min · US 59
11

Turn right onto 800th Street

0.4 mi · 39 sec · 800th Street
Use the right lane.
12

Continue on Linden Road

1.1 mi · 1 min · Linden Road
13

Continue on 12th Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · 12th Street
14

Turn left onto Willow Street

55 ft · 2 sec · Willow Street
15

Arrive at destination

Willow 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 134.3 miles from Davenport, IA, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 184.7 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 59 miles or 1h 10m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 134.3 miles or 2h 32m 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 6m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harlan, 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 268.6 miles and 5h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 184.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 134.3 mi from Davenport, IA · 2h 32m into the drive

city in and the county seat of Jasper County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Newton, IA

134 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

North Liberty, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Newton, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 134.3 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 184.7 miles.

Arriving in Harlan, IA

The final approach into Harlan, 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 Harlan, 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

$41.99 one way

$83.99 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $46.11 $92.21
premium $4.89 $51.69 $103.38
diesel $5.61 $59.30 $118.61

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 94 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 80.6 0 $28.20 $12.89
Efficient EV 67.2 0 $23.50 $10.74
EV Truck/SUV 107.4 1 $37.60 $17.19

Gas CO2

94 kg

EV CO2

31 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Davenport, IA

Night in Davenport on Friday

Local time

11:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Harlan, IA

Night in Harlan on Friday

Local time

11:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

72°F

Newton, IA

134 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

20 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

5h 2m 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 Davenport, IA to Harlan, IA covers 268.6 miles and takes about 5h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 80, US 6, US 59. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 134.3 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 $41.99 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a straightforward 5h 2m 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 174.5 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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

How this page is built

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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