Origin
Davenport, IA
Afternoon in Davenport on Saturday
Local time
12:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Davenport, IA to Lake Mills, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h
Distance
252.2 mi
406 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 47m
★
6 AM
5h 0m
8 AM
5h 27m
10 AM
5h 10m
12 PM
5h 7m
3 PM
5h 11m
5 PM
5h 26m
8 PM
4h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Davenport, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Lake Mills, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Davenport, IA to Lake Mills, IA covers 252.2 miles and takes about 5h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Marquette Street, West Locust Street, Hickory Grove Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.43 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
126.1 miles from Davenport, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Marquette Street | — | — |
| West Locust Street | — | — |
| Hickory Grove Road | — | — |
| West Kimberly Road | — | — |
| I 380 | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| I-380 north | — | — |
| West Washington Expressway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Marquette Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Davenport, IA and Lake Mills, 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 West Locust Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Locust Street
4
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Hickory Grove Road
5
At the end of the road, turn left onto West Kimberly Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
West Kimberly Road
6
Take the ramp right
51 mi
·
56 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 380, US 218, IA 27
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
9
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
71 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
Keep slight right to continue on I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
11
Continue on West Washington Expressway
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
West Washington Expressway
12
Continue on Leo P Rooff Expressway
0.7 mi
·
52 sec
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
13
Continue on West Washington Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Washington Street
14
Continue on Leo P Rooff Expressway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
15
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
16
Keep slight right to continue on US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
17
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
98 mi
·
1 hr 51 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
18
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
19
Turn left onto 410th Street
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
410th Street
20
Turn right onto South Western Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Western Street
21
Continue on Bluebill Avenue
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Bluebill Avenue
22
Turn left onto County Road 105
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 105
23
Continue on County Highway 105
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway 105
24
Continue on East Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
25
Arrive at your destination
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 126.1 miles from Davenport, IA, or about 2h 30m 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 55 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.1 miles or 2h 30m 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 Lake Mills, 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 252.2 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
126 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 126.1 miles from Davenport, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.43 one way
$78.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $43.29 | $86.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $48.53 | $97.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.68 | $111.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.7 | 0 | $26.48 | $12.11 |
| Efficient EV | 63.1 | 0 | $22.07 | $10.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.9 | 1 | $35.31 | $16.14 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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
Lake Mills, IA
Afternoon in Lake Mills on Saturday
Local time
12:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
252.2 mi in 5h across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Marquette Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 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 Davenport, IA to Lake Mills, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h. Total distance: 252.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Davenport, IA to Lake Mills, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lake Mills, IA before the return drive.
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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