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Trip from Garner, 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

3h 54m

Distance

240.7 mi

387 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 42m ★
6 AM
3h 54m
8 AM
4h 20m
10 AM
4h 3m
12 PM
4h 1m
3 PM
4h 5m
5 PM
4h 19m
8 PM
3h 47m

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

Downtown Garner, IA, IA

Garner, IA

Jay's Photography

county seat of Scott County, Iowa, United States

Davenport, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Garner, IA to Davenport, IA covers 240.7 miles and takes about 3h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on State Street, I 35 south, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.63 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

120.4 miles from Garner, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 54m. Total distance: 240.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 54m drive with frequent turns across 240.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 3h 54m 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 Garner, IA to Davenport, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Street
I 35 south
Avenue of the Saints
US 18 East
US 218 south
Leo P Rooff Expressway
Washington Street
I-380 south

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: State Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Garner, IA and Davenport, IA.

1

Start on East 3rd Street

69 ft · 6 sec · East 3rd Street
2

Turn right onto State Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · State Street
3

Turn right

13 mi · 18 min
4

Take the ramp right toward I 35 south, US 18 east, IA 27 south: Des Moines

0.3 mi · 38 sec · I 35 south, US 18 east, IA 27 south: Des Moines
5

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

2.6 mi · 2 min · Avenue of the Saints
6

Take the exit slight right toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City

0.4 mi · 27 sec · US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
7

Turn slight right onto US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City

81 mi · 1 hr 34 min · US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
8

Take the exit slight right toward US 218 south: Waterloo

318 ft · 8 sec · US 218 south: Waterloo
9

Continue on US 218 south: Waterloo

0.3 mi · 40 sec · US 218 south: Waterloo
10

Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway

6.7 mi · 8 min · Leo P Rooff Expressway
11

Continue on Washington Street

2.4 mi · 3 min · Washington Street
12

Keep slight right to continue on I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls

6.5 mi · 7 min · I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
13

Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints

65 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Avenue of the Saints
14

Take the exit slight right toward I 80

0.3 mi · 33 sec · I 80
15

Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Davenport

1.2 mi · 2 min · I 80 East: Davenport
16

Merge slight left

50 mi · 54 min
17

Take the exit slight right toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline

1.2 mi · 2 min · I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
18

Take the exit slight right toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott

0.4 mi · 51 sec · US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
19

Continue on West Kimberly Road

3.0 mi · 4 min · West Kimberly Road
20

Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road

2.5 mi · 5 min · Hickory Grove Road
21

Turn left onto West Locust Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · West Locust Street
22

Turn right onto Gaines Street

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Gaines Street
23

Turn left onto West 14th Street

0.3 mi · 46 sec · West 14th Street
24

At the end of the road, turn right onto Harrison Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Harrison Street
25

Turn right onto West 4th Street

164 ft · 4 sec · West 4th Street
26

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 120.4 miles from Garner, IA, or about 1h 57m 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 53 miles or 51m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 120.4 miles or 1h 57m 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 12m

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 Garner, 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 Garner, IA

This is one driving day of about 240.7 miles and 3h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Garner, 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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 120.4 mi from Garner, IA · 1h 57m into the drive

Downtown Vinton, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Vinton, IA

120 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

Tripoli, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Vinton, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 120.4 miles from Garner, 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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Davenport, 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

$37.63 one way

$75.26 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 84 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $41.32 $82.63
premium $4.89 $46.32 $92.64
diesel $5.61 $53.14 $106.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 84.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 72.2 0 $25.27 $11.55
Efficient EV 60.2 0 $21.06 $9.63
EV Truck/SUV 96.3 1 $33.70 $15.40

Gas CO2

84 kg

EV CO2

28 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 16, 2026

Origin

Garner, IA

Late night in Garner on Saturday

Local time

4:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Davenport, IA

Late night in Davenport on Saturday

Local time

4:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Vinton, IA

120 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

3h 54m 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 Garner, IA to Davenport, IA covers 240.7 miles and takes about 3h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are State Street, I 35 south, Avenue of the Saints. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 120.4 miles from Garner, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.63 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 3h 54m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Garner, IA to Davenport, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Garner, 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.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Davenport, IA to Garner, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

236.8 mi 4h 40m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.