The Oculus
The Oculus sits along the Great River Road at an elevation of 561 feet, with no significant land drop within 600 meters. Four parks lie within sight: Leach Park to the northwest at 0.3 miles, McManus Park to the north-northwest at 0.7 miles, Meier Park also to the northwest at 0.8 miles, and Sunny Crest Park to the northeast at 0.8 miles, each with elevations between roughly 568 and 637 feet. Bettendorf is the closest town, 0.4 miles to the north-northeast, with Moline 0.9 miles south and Davenport 3.3 miles west. Sunrise and sunset times vary by season, ranging from a 05:29 sunrise in June to a 07:26 sunrise in December, with sunsets spanning from 16:36 in December to 20:40 in June. The Oculus follows the Pat and Jack Bush Scenic Overlook and precedes the Mark Twain Scenic Overlook along the byway.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain around this overlook, nearest first. No view direction is recorded, so every bearing is listed.
- Leach Park568 ftnorthwest · 0.3 mi
- McManus Park596 ftnorth-northwest · 0.7 mi
- Sunny Crest Park637 ftnortheast · 0.8 mi
- Meier Park576 ftnorthwest · 0.8 mi
Light
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:06 | 19:14 | 18:38 |
| June solstice | 05:29 | 20:40 | 19:58 |
| September equinox | 06:50 | 19:01 | 18:25 |
| December solstice | 07:26 | 16:36 | 15:51 |
Local time (America/Chicago). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
- Bettendorf0.4 mi north-northeast
- Moline0.9 mi south
- Davenport3.3 mi west
Take the scenic way to The Oculus.
Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.
How high is The Oculus?
The Oculus sits at about 561 feet (171 m).
What can you see from The Oculus?
From The Oculus: Leach Park (NW, 0.3 mi); McManus Park (NNW, 0.7 mi); Sunny Crest Park (NE, 0.8 mi); Meier Park (NW, 0.8 mi).
What is the nearest town to The Oculus?
Bettendorf, 0.4 miles NNE of The Oculus.
What is the next lookout after The Oculus?
Mark Twain Scenic Overlook is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after The Oculus.
Drive to The Oculus with Byway
Byway plans the scenic way there — real places along Great River Road, real weather, zero hallucinations — and hands the turns to the navigation you already use.
Byways with this lookout
Locals make it Verified.
The Oculus — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.
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