Major city · United States
Davenport
Give Davenport 1–2 nights as a Quad Cities base: riverfront, two good museums and cheap food. Add a day for the Illinois side.
Davenport is the largest of the Quad Cities, on the Mississippi in eastern Iowa, about 2 h 45 min by car from Chicago and 3 h from Des Moines. It is a small-city stop, not a destination trip: a riverfront, the Figge and Putnam museums, and a compact downtown you can walk in an afternoon. Most visitors come for one or two nights, or as a break on an I-80 drive.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jan–Feb (cold, windy), late Jul–Aug (heat and humidity)
- Airports
- MLI · DVN
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Davenport911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Davenport, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyDavenport is a normal small US city: daytime downtown and the riverfront are fine, and the usual advice applies after dark — stay on lit streets…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMLI Quad City International (Moline, IL) (About 15 min by car from downtown Davenport; non-stop flights mostly within the Midwest…
- Getting aroundA car is the practical choice: sights spread north of the river and across to Moline and Rock Island.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–6
- Sit-down mealSit-down dinner mainTipping 18–22% is expected on top.$18–35
- Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$10–16
- BeerDraught beer in a bar$6–9
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Figge, Putnam)check$7–15
- Budget bedFamily room or suite (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$150
- Mid-range bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$140
- High-end bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$230
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$120 · High US$220
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MLI Quad City International (Moline, IL) (About 15 min by car from downtown Davenport; non-stop flights mostly within the Midwest, South and Southwest.) · DVN Davenport Municipal (Private planes and small jets only; no scheduled airline service.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
Feb
Avoid
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Mar
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Apr
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
May
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Jun
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Jul
Avoid*
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Aug
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Sep
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Oct
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Nov
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Dec
not flagged
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Feb, Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)), coolest Jan (−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C) low), wettest May (11 rain days), driest Feb (7). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
Davenport: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C)
8 rd
Feb
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
7 rd
Mar
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
9 rd
Apr
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
10 rd
May
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
11 rd
Jun
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
10 rd
Jul
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
9 rd
Aug
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8 rd
Sep
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
8 rd
Oct
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
8 rd
Nov
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
8 rd
Dec
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
8 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is the practical choice: sights spread north of the river and across to Moline and Rock Island. CitiBus runs Monday–Friday 5:30–18:30 and Saturday 9:00–18:30, so it is no use for evenings. Taxis are not waiting at hotels — call at least 30 min ahead. The Channel Cat water taxi links the Iowa and Illinois shores in summer.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Moline and Rock Island, Illinois
goDoor to door: About 30 min
I-74 across the river, about 15–20 min by car
John Deere Pavilion in Moline; the Rock Island Arsenal is a working military base — check visitor access rules before you go.
Le Claire
goDoor to door: About 30 min
I-80 east, about 20 min by car
Mississippi riverfront town; pair with a riverboat stop.
Bettendorf
goDoor to door: About 25 min
I-74 east, about 15 min by car
Adjacent Quad City; the Channel Cat stops at the Isle of Capri in summer.
Muscatine
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
US-61 south, about 45 min by car
River town with a small museum cluster; half a day is enough.
Amana Colonies
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
I-80 west, about 1 h 15 min by car
Historic German villages; go for lunch and shops.
Dubuque
overnightDoor to door: About 1.75 h
US-61 north, about 1 h 30 min by car
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep one night.
Kalona
cautionDoor to door: About 1.75 h
I-80 west then IA-1 south, about 1 h 30 min by car
Amish and Mennonite country; check shop hours, many close Sunday.
Clinton
cautionDoor to door: About 1.25 h
US-67 north along the river, about 1 h by car
Riverfront and a small museum; combine with a drive north.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Downtown / riverfront
Walk to the Figge, LeClaire Park and the Skybridge; best for a short stay without a car.
Village of East Davenport
Older riverside blocks with shops and bars, about 5 min by car east of downtown.
North Davenport / I-80 exits
Chain hotels and free parking; you will drive to everything.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $60–100 excl. bed
- Mid
- $110–180 excl. bed
- High
- $200+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$140 | US$280 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$120 | US$480 |
| Rideshare, airport to downtown1 × US$25 · check | US$25 |
| CitiBus single ride2 × US$2 · check | US$4 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$82 |
| Trip total≈ US$225 per person per day, bed included | US$901 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax is added at the till and is not included. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Diner breakfast | $10–16 |
| Sandwich or burger lunch | $12–20 |
| Sit-down dinner mainTipping 18–22% is expected on top. | $18–35 |
| Draught beer in a bar | $6–9 |
| Museum entry (Figge, Putnam)check | $7–15 |
| Rideshare across downtown | $8–15 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- River Drive and the riverfront parks flood in high water; check levels after heavy spring rain.
- Summer heat index reaches about 39 °C (102 °F), with humid nights — plan museum time at midday.Summer heat index reaches about 102 °F (39 °C), with humid nights — plan museum time at midday.
- Winter brings wind and snow from November; snow clearing on side streets is uneven, so cycling is unreliable then.
- Bicycles share the road: most major streets have no bike lanes.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
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DavenportDavenport
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No embassies here; consulates are in Chicago. For your country's nearest office, check before you travel.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- MLI airport → downtown Davenport, rideshare: about $25–35, about 15 min (check)
- CitiBus single ride: about $2 (check)
- Channel Cat water taxi, summer: small per-ride fare; check the season and stops before relying on it
Say or show
- Where is the riverfront? — Where is the riverfront?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Is there parking here? — Is there parking here?
Sales tax is added at the till; posted prices are not final.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Davenport. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, windy), late Jul–Aug (heat and humidity) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 8 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for MLI: last flight arrivals, taxi and rideshare fallback, overnight rung.
- Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: downtown riverfront, Village of East Davenport, and the museums on West 12th Street.
- Place pages with verified hours and cutoffs (Figge, Putnam, German American Heritage Center, Palmer Residence) and eat pages with last orders.
- Flood and heat fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialCity of Davenport
- officialVisit Quad Cities
- officialFigge Art Museum
- officialPutnam Museum
- officialCitiBus (City of Davenport)
- secondaryWikivoyage: Davenport, revision 5330708 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ask about Davenport
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