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Trip from Davenport, IA to Jefferson, IA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 22m

Distance

223.3 mi

359 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 9m ★
6 AM
4h 22m
8 AM
4h 49m
10 AM
4h 32m
12 PM
4h 29m
3 PM
4h 33m
5 PM
4h 48m
8 PM
4h 15m

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 Greene County, Iowa, United States

Jefferson, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Davenport, IA to Jefferson, IA covers 223.3 miles and takes about 4h 22m 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, George P. Soumas Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 98 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.91 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

111.6 miles from Davenport, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 4h 22m highway drive covering 223.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and US 6. The longest continuous stretch is about 98 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 22 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 98 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 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 22m drive. You will face about 8 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 1.7 miles (US 6 Hist / West Locust Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (US 6 / West Kimberly Road): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 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

4
1.7 mi into trip | ~3m in | US 6 Hist / West Locust Street

Turn left onto US 6 Hist / West Locust 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

3
7.5 mi into trip | ~14m in | US 6

Take the ramp onto US 6

Navigation decision point

8
170.5 mi into trip | ~3h 12m in

Take the exit toward IA 141 West: Urbandale, Grimes

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 127 Toward IA 141 West: Urbandale, Grimes

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 Jefferson, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Grimes along the way.

Grimes

170.5 mi in | ~3h 12m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 98 mi 1h 46m
US 6 64.9 mi 1h 11m
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway 17.7 mi 24m
Northwest Granger Drive 16.5 mi 19m
Neola Avenue 8.5 mi 11m
West Kimberly Road 2.9 mi 4m
Southeast Grimes Boulevard 2.6 mi 3m
Northwest 114th Street 2.6 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 98 mi, about 1h 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

98 mi · 1 hr 46 min · I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Exit 127 Toward IA 141 West: Urbandale, Grimes Use the slight right lane.
9

Turn right onto IA 141

195 ft · 3 sec · Northwest Urbandale Drive
10

Continue on IA 141

2.6 mi · 3 min · Southeast Grimes Boulevard
11

Continue on IA 141

1.0 mi · 1 min · Northeast Grimes Boulevard
12

Continue on IA 141

2.6 mi · 3 min · Northwest 114th Street
13

Continue on IA 141

16 mi · 18 min · Northwest Granger Drive
14

Continue on IA 141

0.9 mi · 1 min · Northwest Granger Drive
15

Continue on IA 141

18 mi · 24 min · George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
16

Turn right onto IA 4

1.3 mi · 1 min · State Highway 4
17

Continue on IA 4

8.5 mi · 11 min · Neola Avenue
18

Continue on IA 4

0.4 mi · 29 sec · South Elm Street
19

Continue on IA 4

0.7 mi · 55 sec · N Avenue
20

Continue on IA 4

1.2 mi · 2 min · South Elm Street
21

Turn left onto West Lincolnway Street

22 ft · 0 sec · West Lincolnway Street
22

Arrive at destination

West Lincolnway 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 111.6 miles from Davenport, IA, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98 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 49 miles or 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 111.6 miles or 2h 8m 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 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson, 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 223.3 miles and 4h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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 98 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 111.6 mi from Davenport, IA · 2h 8m into the drive

city in Tama County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tama, IA

112 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

Iowa City, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tama, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 111.6 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 98 miles.

Arriving in Jefferson, IA

The final approach into Jefferson, 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 Jefferson, 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

$34.91 one way

$69.82 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 78 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $38.33 $76.66
premium $4.89 $42.97 $85.94
diesel $5.61 $49.30 $98.60

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 78.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 67 0 $23.45 $10.72
Efficient EV 55.8 0 $19.54 $8.93
EV Truck/SUV 89.3 1 $31.26 $14.29

Gas CO2

78 kg

EV CO2

26 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 Wednesday

Local time

11:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Jefferson, IA

Night in Jefferson on Wednesday

Local time

11:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 22m 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 Jefferson, IA covers 223.3 miles and takes about 4h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, US 6, George P. Soumas Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 111.6 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 $34.91 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 4h 22m drive. You will face about 8 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 1.7 miles (US 6 Hist / West Locust Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (US 6 / West Kimberly Road): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Davenport, IA to Jefferson, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Grimes along the way.

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Return Trip

Jefferson, IA to Davenport, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

219.3 mi 4h 23m

Explore more options from Davenport, IA or browse trips ending in Jefferson, IA.

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