How far is Davenport, IA from Carter Lake, IA?

The driving distance from Davenport, IA to Carter Lake, IA is about 303.2 miles (487.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 277.2 miles (446.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 23m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
303.15 mi
05h 41m
Flight
277.17 mi
446.07 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Davenport.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
277.17 mi
Kilometers
446.07 km
Flight Time
00h 33m

Driving Distance

Road route
303.15 mi
Kilometers
487.87 km
Drive Time
05h 41m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Carter Lake
Sun, Apr 12, 1:11 PM CDT
Return by in Davenport
Sun, Apr 12, 6:53 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Davenport
2026-04-12T07:29
Arrive Carter Lake
Sun, Apr 12, 1:11 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:42 AM to 1:42 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:36 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Davenport
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Mitchellville
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Davenport
151.2 mi
02h 50m
To Carter Lake
151.9 mi
02h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
76°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 17 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Davenport and Carter Lake.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Davenport and Carter Lake.

  1. 1

    Start on West 4th Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · West 4th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Marquette Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Marquette Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Locust Street

    2659 ft · 1 min · West Locust Street

  4. 4

    Turn slight right onto Hickory Grove Road

    2.5 mi · 5 min · Hickory Grove Road

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn left onto West Kimberly Road

    2.9 mi · 4 min · West Kimberly Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp right

    64.9 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    102 mi · 1 hr 51 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

    95.5 mi · 1 hr 43 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska

    23.7 mi · 26 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 29 North, I 80 West Local: Council Bluffs

    2.9 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Continue on I 29 North: Sioux City

    2 mi · 2 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 480 West, US 6 West

    1.7 mi · 3 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward 14th Street, Old Market District, Creighton University

    1472 ft · 40 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North 14th Street

    1994 ft · 1 min · North 14th Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Izard Street

    1113 ft · 31 sec · Izard Street

  16. 16

    Continue on North 11th Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · North 11th Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto East Locust Street

    1 km · 2 min · East Locust Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto North 9th Street

    2043 ft · 1 min · North 9th Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 9th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Davenport and Carter Lake.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
19 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
0 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Kimberly Road
170 mi · 56%
I 80 West
119 mi · 39%
I 29 North
4.84 mi · 2%
Hickory Grove Road
2.46 mi · 1%
I 480 West
1.68 mi · 1%
North 11th Street
1.09 mi
Longest Stretch

West Kimberly Road

Continue straight

102 mi · 01h 51m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 41m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26 mi
277.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mitchellville
02h 50m from Davenport
Leave By
5:36 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Davenport and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Carter Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Davenport to Carter Lake?

The road trip is about 303.2 miles (487.9 km) and usually takes 05h 41m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mitchellville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 151.2 miles from Davenport and 151.9 miles from Carter Lake.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 277.2 miles (446.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 26 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:36 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.52 one way or $87.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 102.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Davenport and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Carter Lake.

Stop Ideas Near Mitchellville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Mitchellville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Mitchellville.

RAIL

Osceola

78 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Ottumwa station

107 mi away
210 West Main Street
RAIL

Creston

108 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Davenport and Carter Lake. Straight-line distance: 277.17 mi (446.07 km).

Davenport

#1 Davenport

The most populous city in Scott County, Iowa.

Population101,799
Coordinates41.5236400, -90.5776400
Altitude180
CountryUnited States
Carter Lake

#2 Carter Lake

City in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States

Population3,793
Coordinates41.2905500, -95.9180700
Altitude299
CountryUnited States
Start: Davenport (-90.57764, 41.52364)
End: Carter Lake (-95.91807, 41.29055)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 488 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 46m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.54 gal
43.69 L · about $43.52
Round trip
$87.03
23.08 gal · 87.38 L
Estimated CO2
102.6 kg one way
Round trip: 205.1 kg / 452 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $43.52 $87.03
Mid-grade $4.25 $49.08 $98.16
Premium $4.65 $53.71 $107.41
Diesel $5.30 $61.21 $122.42

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Iowa · Apr 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Davenport and Carter Lake. The current time is 07:29:38.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.