Leon, IA to Davenport, IA is 236.8 miles and takes about 4h 29m via I 80 and I 35, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest with a drive that's predominantly highway. It's a straightforward, one-day journey perfect for a quick transit between these two cities. Expect a travel experience focused on efficient movement, with minimal detours from major roadways. This route is ideal if you're looking for a no-fuss drive to get you from point A to point B.
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
118.4 miles from Leon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 29m. Total distance: 236.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a heavily highway-focused drive, with 92% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll spend the bulk of your time on I 80, which accounts for the longest stretch of uninterrupted driving at 152.3 miles. Expect a consistent, high-speed experience for most of the journey. The initial and final segments might involve some local roads, such as Northwest Church Street, but these are brief. The overall character is one of steady progress on well-maintained, high-speed roadways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 152.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 11.1 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 29m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.1 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
11.1 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the ramp toward Webb
Navigation decision point
Toward Webb
5
11.4 mi into trip|~16m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
75.1 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
5
227.4 mi into trip|~4h 11m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock...
5
228.6 mi into trip|~4h 13m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, W...
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
152.3 mi
2h 44m
I 35
63.7 mi
1h 9m
Northwest Church Street
9.4 mi
13m
West Kimberly Road
3 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
US 6
1.5 mi
2m
120th Street
1 mi
1m
West Locust Street
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 152.3 mi, about 2h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leon, IA and Davenport, IA.
1
Start on US 69
9.4 mi·13 min·Northwest Church Street
2
Turn left onto 120th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·120th Street
3
Continue on CR J14
0.7 mi·1 min·Line Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Webb
5
Merge onto I 35
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
152 mi·2 hr 44 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 6
1.1 mi·2 min·US 6
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
8
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 East, CR F58 West: Kimberly Road, Walcott
9
Continue on US 6
3.0 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
10
Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
11
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi·2 min·West Locust Street
12
Turn right onto Gaines Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Gaines Street
13
Turn left onto West 14th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·West 14th Street
14
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Harrison Street
15
Turn right onto West 4th Street
165 ft·4 sec·West 4th Street
16
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 29-minute drive time, starting in the morning allows ample time to reach Davenport before evening. With a fuel cost estimated at $37, it's wise to fill up before departing Leon or at a major exit along I 80 to ensure competitive pricing. There's only one recommended stop, so plan for a brief break midway if needed, perhaps around the 2-hour mark. The longest stretch without exiting is over 150 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with sustained driving or factor in an early fuel stop if you prefer shorter intervals.
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 118.4 miles from Leon, IA, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152.3 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 52 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.4 miles or 2h 13m 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 35m
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 Leon, 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 Leon, IA
This is one driving day of about 236.8 miles and 4h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Leon, 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 152.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 118.4 mi from Leon, IA
· 2h 13m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71
0
$24.86
$11.37
Efficient EV
59.2
0
$20.72
$9.47
EV Truck/SUV
94.7
1
$33.15
$15.16
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Leon, IA
Late night
in Leon on Saturday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Davenport, IA
Late night
in Davenport on Saturday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NW 15 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 17 at 11:29PM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
72°F
Newton, IA
118 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
11 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
4h 29m 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 Leon, IA to Davenport, IA covers 236.8 miles and takes about 4h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 35, Northwest Church Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 118.4 miles from Leon, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.02 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 29m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.1 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Leon, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
