Origin
Fort Madison, IA
Morning in Fort Madison on Saturday
Local time
6:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Madison, IA to Davenport, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 58m
Distance
96.2 mi
155 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 50m
★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 3m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 15m
8 PM
1h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Madison, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Davenport, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 96.4-mile drive from Fort Madison to Davenport, Iowa, is a straightforward, one-day adventure taking approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes. With a modest fuel cost of around $15, it's an economical option for a short getaway within the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Avenue I, Avenue H, and 2nd Street, meaning you'll be navigating through towns and along city streets for the majority of the journey. Given its relatively short distance and duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing for a leisurely pace without the need for an overnight stay. It’s a practical choice for a quick trip between these two Iowa communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.1 miles from Fort Madison, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 96.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this entire 96.4-mile journey, as indicated by the 0% highway share. You won't encounter any long, uninterrupted stretches of open road; instead, anticipate frequent turns and changes in speed as you navigate through various local streets. The route will feel like a continuous drive through communities rather than a high-speed transit between them. This character means you'll be more engaged with the driving, paying attention to navigation as you move from Avenue I to Avenue H and 2nd Street, and through the towns connecting Fort Madison and Davenport.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 61 Business is the longest continuous segment at about 49.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 61 Business and U.S. 61. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Avenue I.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fort Madison, IA to Davenport, IA is easy. At 1h 58m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Avenue I): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 61 Business / Avenue H): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles (US 61 Business): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Avenue I
Turn right onto Avenue I
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 61 Business / Avenue H
Turn right onto US 61 Business / Avenue H
Navigation decision point
6
4.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 61 Business
Take the ramp onto US 61 Business
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
95.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
|
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
96.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn left onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 61 Business | 49.2 mi | 59m |
| U.S. 61 | 20.3 mi | 22m |
| US 61 | 8.8 mi | 10m |
| Douglas King Memorial Expressway | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| West River Drive | 6 mi | 10m |
| 354th Avenue | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Avenue H | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 2nd Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 61 Business
— 49.2 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Madison, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on this road
61 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Avenue I
139 ft
·
8 sec
·
Avenue I
3
Turn right onto US 61 Business
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue H
4
Turn slight left onto US 61 Business
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
2nd Street
5
Continue on US 61 Business
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
354th Avenue
6
Take the ramp onto US 61 Business
49 mi
·
59 min
·
US 61 Business
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 61; IA 92
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
US 61; IA 92
8
Turn left onto US 61; IA 92
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Douglas King Memorial Expressway
9
Continue on US 61
20 mi
·
22 min
·
U.S. 61
10
Continue on US 61
6.0 mi
·
10 min
·
West River Drive
11
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
Main Street
12
Turn left onto West 4th Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
West 4th Street
13
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given this drive is only 1 hour and 50 minutes and covers 96.4 miles, you have a lot of flexibility in when you depart. Leaving in the morning allows for ample time to explore Davenport upon arrival, or you can opt for a late morning departure and still be in Davenport by mid-afternoon. Since there are no designated stops or longest stretches mentioned, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps stopping for a quick refreshment in one of the towns along the way. The estimated fuel cost is $15, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before you leave Fort Madison to avoid any unnecessary stops.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.1 miles from Fort Madison, IA, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.2 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.1 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Davenport, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Madison, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Madison, IA
This is one driving day of about 96.2 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Fort Madison, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 61 Business for about 49.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.1 mi from Fort Madison, IA · 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.1 miles from Fort Madison, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Davenport, IA
The final approach into Davenport, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.04 one way
$30.08 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.51 | $33.03 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.51 | $37.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.24 | $42.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.10 | $4.62 |
| Efficient EV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.42 | $3.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.5 | 0 | $13.47 | $6.16 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Davenport, IA
Morning in Davenport on Saturday
Local time
6:20 AM
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
2 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
1h 58m 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 Fort Madison, IA to Davenport, IA covers 96.2 miles and takes about 1h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 61 Business, U.S. 61, US 61. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.1 miles from Fort Madison, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.04 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.
The drive from Fort Madison, IA to Davenport, IA is easy. At 1h 58m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Avenue I): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 61 Business / Avenue H): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles (US 61 Business): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fort Madison, IA to Davenport, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Davenport, IA
More trips to Davenport, IA
Explore more options from Fort Madison, IA or browse trips ending in Davenport, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.