Who doesn’t love a good road trip in Iowa? Fortunately for Iowans, we have one of the most beautiful and fun states to explore. With scenic byways, attractions, natural destinations, and more, there are plenty of road trips to keep you happily busy all year long. Below you’ll find eight IA road trips that you must take before you die. Searching for drivable vacations from IA? Look no further. 

Not sure what to bring along? No worries – check out our handy-dandy Road Trip Essentials Packing Guide for everything you need and more.  

1. The Iowa Waterfalls Road Trip
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If you can't get enough of Iowa's beautiful waterfalls, you'll definitely want to take the Iowa waterfalls road trip! After scouring the state, we picked out eight of the very best waterfalls that offer relatively easy access, and then we mapped them out in an easy-to-follow route. The total trip is 434 (incredibly scenic) miles with an estimated eight and a half hours drive time. Worth every moment, we promise!
2. The Haunted Iowa Road Trip
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If you can't get enough of Iowa's spookiest haunted places, you'll definitely want to take the haunted Iowa road trip...if you dare. If you’re a lover of ghost stories and all things scary, there are plenty of spooky and haunted places around Iowa to explore. From a haunted opera house to a creepy murder house, this haunted road trip will lead you to the absolute scariest places in Iowa.
3. The Road Trip Through Iowa’s Ghost Towns
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Speaking of ghosts, how about a ghost town road trip in IA? From abandoned mining towns to small towns that fought to survive during some of Iowa’s devastating floods, you can take a tour of some of the ghost towns right in your backyard and discover pieces of Iowa’s history you never knew existed. Get ready for a chilling and educational 4 hour and 55 minute journey through seven of eastern Iowa’s deserted communities. It's good, spooky fun!
4. The "10 Amazing Places You Can Go On One Tank of Gas In Iowa" Road Trip
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Don't want to shell out a bunch of money for gas? Worry not, dear reader! Do this fun Iowa road trip on one tank of gas. Iowa has many amazing places that you can explore on just one tank, depending on your car’s gas mileage, anyway. A tank of gas can get you roughly between 300-500 miles, and this trip is 282 miles long, traveling down The Great River Road along the mighty Mississippi. Gas up and go for a drive.

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5. Iowa’s Most Charming Small Towns Road Trip
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If you can't get enough of Iowa's beautiful small towns, you'll definitely want to take the small towns in IA road trip. In today’s increasingly complex and busy world, it’s nice to know that there are still small towns that are charming, welcoming, and hearken back to a simpler time. Iowa is chock-full of charming small towns where everyone still knows each other, everyone waves and smiles, and slower-paced living is embraced. This route travels across the state, with 488 miles to cover and about nine hours of driving time total.
6. Iowa Natural Wonders Road Trip
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This one is for the nature lover in us all. Embark upon the epic natural wonders of Iowa road trip. There’s more to Iowa than meets the eye. We’re much more than cornfields and flat lands. There’s a surprising diversity and richness to the natural wonders that you can explore. From other-worldly caves to waterfalls and everything in between, this road trip will show you Iowa like you’ve never seen it before, in approximately five hours of driving time and 254 miles.
7. Iowa’s Most Abandoned Places Road Trip
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Urban exploration is fun for lots of people, and this is the road trip for them. This trip will take you to some interesting, creepy and even beautiful abandoned spots that are sure to peak your interest. The route covers 450 miles, and the driving time is approximately seven hours and forty minutes. When it comes to IA road trip ideas, this is one of our faves.
8. The Iowa Fall Color Road Trip
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Fall color in Iowa is amazing. You'll love this spellbinding fall color road trip in Iowa. Autumn is for basking in the glorious beauty of the foliage around the state. With all of our beautiful state parks and wooded areas, there are so many places to enjoy this annual experience. This fun road trip through Iowa will charm you with a rich palette of gorgeous reds, yellows, oranges and browns. The route covers 285 miles and is roughly six hours of driving time.

Ready to hop in the car to explore Iowa’s coolest attractions? Which IA road trips are the most fun for you? Where do you go when you want to hit the road? Let us know in the comments! We love to hear from you.

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IA Road Trips

Tori Jane | August 12, 2021

What are some family-friendly road trips in Iowa I can take?  

There are plenty of interesting and fun family-oriented road trips you can take in the great state of Iowa – you just gotta get a little creative. For example, plenty of food-based road trips are kid-friendly; just put together a list of the best macaroni and cheese restaurants across the state and go for it. You could also make road trips out of Iowa’s beautiful state parks, which kids absolutely love for both the sense of adventure and the natural beauty. Drive from town to town sampling the best ice cream parlors Iowa has to offer, or maybe go on an epic donut trail. The possibilities are endless!  

What are the best things to do in Iowa? 

You mean besides the epic Adventureland Park in Altoona? Plenty! You could do a super-fun Iowa scavenger hunt using Let’s Roam, an awesome app dedicated to guided hunts all over Iowa City. Speaking of Let’s Roam, they’ve also got guided scavenger hunts in Des Moines. Council Bluff, Iowa, is the home of the 360 Steakhouse, which offers up epic 360-degree views of the city. You could also visit any one (or all) of Iowa’s 83 (seriously) state parks or its two national parks.  

Are there any good day trips in Iowa I can do?  

Plenty! Journey out to Iowa’s very own great lakes for a weekend of adventure, if one day isn’t enough. Take a day trip to the Amana Colonies, which will offer you a glimpse into adorable German villages, or, if you prefer the luck of the Irish, you could visit Melrose – Iowa's very own “little Ireland”. Speaking of cultural attractions, the town of Decorah is a little slice of Norway right in our backyard. We also strongly suggest killing a whole day at the beyond-beautiful Loess Hills, which might just be as scenic as it gets here. 

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