The drive from Waverly, IA to Bettendorf, IA covers 159.3 miles and takes about 3h 5m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, I 80, Leo P Rooff Expressway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 75.6 miles on Avenue of the Saints.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.90 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
79.6 miles from Waverly, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 159.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Waverly, IA to Bettendorf, IA covers 159.3 miles and takes about 3h 5m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 75.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.4 miles in near I 380.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 159.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 23.4 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.9 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
23.4 mi into trip|~31m in|I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids,...
6
29.9 mi into trip|~39m in|I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
94.9 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
5
153.9 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Take the exit toward I 74 East: Bettendorf, Davenport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 East: Bettendorf, Davenport
6
159 mi into trip|~3h 4m in|US 67 / Grant Street
Turn right onto US 67 / Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waverly, IA and Bettendorf, IA, road signs point toward Dubuque and Cedar Falls.
Dubuque
23.4 mi in|~31m|via I 380
Cedar Falls
23.4 mi in|~31m|via I 380
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
75.6 mi
1h 24m
I 80
57.8 mi
1h 3m
Leo P Rooff Expressway
6.7 mi
8m
I 380
6.5 mi
7m
I 74
4.3 mi
5m
Washington Street
2.4 mi
3m
4th Street Southwest
1.4 mi
3m
US 218 Business
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 75.6 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waverly, IA and Bettendorf, IA.
1
Start on IA 3
62 ft·9 sec·West Bremer Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 218 Business
1.4 mi·3 min·4th Street Southwest
3
Continue on 4th Avenue Southwest
0.7 mi·1 min·4th Avenue Southwest
4
Keep slight left at fork onto US 218 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·US 218 Business
5
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
11 mi·12 min·Avenue of the Saints
6
Take the exit
317 ft·7 sec
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
7
Continue on US 218
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
8
Merge onto US 218
6.7 mi·8 min·Leo P Rooff Expressway
9
Continue on US 218
2.4 mi·3 min·Washington Street
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
6.5 mi·7 min·I 380
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
65 mi·1 hr 11 min·Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
13
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
14
Merge onto I 80
58 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 80
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·44 sec
Toward I 74 East: Bettendorf, Davenport
16
Merge onto I 74
4.3 mi·5 min·I 74
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward US 67: US 67, Grant Street, State Street, Riverfront
18
Turn right onto US 67
0.1 mi·17 sec·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.1 mi·39 sec·12th Street
20
Turn left
74 ft·3 sec
21
Arrive at 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 79.6 miles from Waverly, IA, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.6 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 35 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.6 miles or 1h 34m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bettendorf, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waverly, 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 Waverly, IA
This is one driving day of about 159.3 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Waverly, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 75.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.6 mi from Waverly, IA
· 1h 34m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.8
0
$16.73
$7.65
Efficient EV
39.8
0
$13.94
$6.37
EV Truck/SUV
63.7
0
$22.30
$10.20
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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
Waverly, IA
Late night
in Waverly on Saturday
Local time
5:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bettendorf, IA
Late night
in Bettendorf on Saturday
Local time
5:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
4 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 5m 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 Waverly, IA to Bettendorf, IA covers 159.3 miles and takes about 3h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, I 80, Leo P Rooff Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.6 miles from Waverly, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.90 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 demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 159.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 23.4 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.9 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Waverly, IA and Bettendorf, IA, road signs point toward Dubuque and Cedar Falls.
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.
