Davenport is a city located on the Mississippi River. It’s the largest of the Quad Cities, a metro area of nearly 500,000 that includes Davenport & Bettendorf (Iowa) on the north side of the river and Rock City & Moline (Illinois) on the south side. Trails along the Mississippi form the heart of running in Davenport & the Quad Cities, though there are other nice parks, neighborhoods & multi-use trails.
The best place to run in Davenport is the 11-mile Riverfront Trail on the north side of the river. On the south side, there’s the Great River Trail, which runs for 60 miles between Rock Island and Savanna. In north Davenport, the Duck Creek Trail Pkwy connects several parks & neighborhoods. We’ve also put together a nice run combining historic districts & parks in downtown Davenport & Rock Island. Near the Quad Cities airport, the Hennepin Canal State Trail along the canal/Rock River is a nice option. The 620-acre West Lake Park has lovely trails around four lakes.
Runners should note there are distinct seasons of weather in the area. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are cold & snowy.
