Planning a trip from Grimes, Iowa, to Davenport, Iowa? This drive covers 174.9 miles and should take you about 3 hours and 21 minutes, making it a very manageable one-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on I-80, with about 93% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest journey is around $27. With only one recommended stop, it’s a straightforward drive that won't require an overnight stay. This route offers a practical way to travel between these two Iowa cities without much fuss.
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
87.5 miles from Grimes, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 21m. Total distance: 174.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with a significant 93% of the 174.9 miles spent on major roadways like I-80. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 160.8 miles on I-80, which means consistent speeds and minimal slowdowns. While the majority of the drive is on this main interstate, you will briefly transition to local roads like West Kimberly Road and Hickory Grove Road near your destination. Expect a predictable driving experience for most of the journey, characterized by the efficiency of interstate travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 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 160.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and West Kimberly Road. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 174.9 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in
Turn left toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
13
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
14
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
15
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
16
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi·2 min·West Locust Street
17
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Gaines Street
18
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 14th Street
19
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Harrison Street
20
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
21
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 21-minute duration, you can easily complete this trip from Grimes to Davenport in a single day. Consider an early morning departure to maximize your time at your destination or simply enjoy a relaxed start. The longest stretch on I-80 is over 160 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point or when you feel the need. While the route is direct, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is always wise, especially on longer interstate segments. The relatively short distance offers flexibility, so you can adjust your timing as needed.
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 87.5 miles from Grimes, IA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 160.8 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 38 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.5 miles or 1h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 39m
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 Grimes, 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 Grimes, IA
This is one driving day of about 174.9 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Grimes, 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 160.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 87.5 mi from Grimes, IA
· 1h 38m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.5
0
$18.36
$8.40
Efficient EV
43.7
0
$15.30
$7.00
EV Truck/SUV
70
0
$24.49
$11.19
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Grimes, IA
Late night
in Grimes on Saturday
Local time
1:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Davenport, IA
Late night
in Davenport on Saturday
Local time
1:12 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
20 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
3h 21m 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 Grimes, IA to Davenport, IA covers 174.9 miles and takes about 3h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, West Kimberly Road, Hickory Grove Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 87.5 miles from Grimes, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.34 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 174.9 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Grimes, IA to Davenport, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Moline along the way.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
