Planning a road trip can be time-consuming, especially when you have a large crew to pack into the car – and then there is the cost. But road trips in IA don’t have to be expensive. Planning affordable trips in Iowa is possible, especially when you have an itinerary laid out in advance. This affordable road trip in Iowa combines free and low-cost activities along with reasonably-priced meals and treats for a full day of fun in the Hawkeye State. You’ll see natural beauty, fascinating museums, and some of Iowa’s most underrated activities on a full day of travel from central Iowa to its eastern border. So pack up the supplies and bring your explorer’s energy, because an affordable adventure awaits on this road trip itinerary!

How much can you do for under $100? On this affordable Iowa road trip, quite a lot - including these eight stops!
Self-Generated/Google Maps
1. High Trestle Trail (Slater)
High Trestle Trail, Iowa, USA
Phil Roeder/Wikipedia
This extended elevated trail over some of Iowa's most beautiful sights is only a short distance from Des Moines, and won't cost you a penny to explore.

Learn more about the history of Iowa's High Trestle Trail in Madrid and Woodward, Iowa in this video:
2. Newton Arboretum and Botanical Garden (Newton)
Newton Arboretum & Botanical, North 4th Avenue East, Newton, IA, USA
Newton Arboretum and Botanical Garden/Facebook
Iowa is blessed with many peaceful and relaxing places and the Newton Arboretum and Botanical Garden is filled with hundreds of plants and unique sculptures, this free botanical garden is the perfect destination for anyone looking for a peaceful retreat.
3. The Classic Deli & Ice Cream Shoppe (Brooklyn)
The Classic Deli & Ice Cream Shoppe/Facebook
The Classic Deli & Ice Cream Shoppe, 120 Jackson St, Brooklyn, IA 52211, USA
The Classic Deli & Ice Cream Shoppe/Facebook
Are you ready to travel back in time? This restaurant and confectionary call back to the city malt shops of the early 1900s. You can get a hearty hot sandwich here for under ten, and a massive sundae to top your meal for under $5 in most cases. You won't be hungry for a while - which is good, because there's a lot of adventure ahead!
4. Amana Heritage Society Museum (Amana)
Janet S/TripAdvisor

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Amana is one of Iowa's most unique towns, and this German-style residence is full of old mementos of times gone by.
Amana Heritage Society, 705 44th Ave, Amana, IA 52203, USA
Empressoftheuniverse/TripAdvisor
For a small fee of around $10 per person, you can step inside this old-fashioned Amana home for a trip into the past.
5. University of Iowa Museum of Natural History (Iowa City)
University of Iowa Museum of Natural History, Macbride Hall, 17 N Clinton St, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA
DK C/TripAdvisor
If you are a fan of free natural history museums, Iowa's largest natural history museum is located on the campus, and is full of amazing dioramas and fossils. Science-loving kids will want to spend hours here! And even better for the picket book, it is one of the coolest free places to visit in IA.

Take a tour of the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History and learn more about the cool things you'll find here:
6. Devonian Fossil Gorge (Iowa City)
Devonian Fossil Gorge, 2850 Prairie Du Chien Rd NE, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA
Management/TripAdvisor
If you are looking for free things to do in IA, why not build on that excitement with a trip to this primordial site? At the Devonian Fossil Gorge you can look down and see fossils of ancient sea creatures that have been here long before the dinosaurs existed.
7. Sunshine Family Restaurant (Dubuque)
Vetskidog/TripAdvisor
Sunshine Family Restaurant, 401 Central Ave, Dubuque, IA 52001, USA
Vetskidog/TripAdvisor
You'll definitely be ready for another meal by now, so tuck into this traditional local diner. Specializing in hot sandwiches, you'll find delicious patty melts and pork tenderloins to satisfy your hunger for one more jaunt. With every menu item under $10, it is a very affordable place to grab a bite to eat.
8. Cassville Car Ferry (Guttenberg)
Cassville Car Ferry, Oak Rd, Guttenberg, IA 52052, USA
Cassville Car Ferry/Facebook
This unique ferry will take you across the river to Wisconsin and back - and you can take it as a passenger, or drive the car with the whole family on board! At only $15 per car, it won't break the bank either.

Watch this video to see what it is like to take the Cassville Car Ferry to cross the Mississippi River:

Are you excited about this affordable road trip in Iowa? What are your favorite low-or-no-cost activities in the Hawkeye State? Let us know in the comments section. If you’re interested in more affordable trips in Iowa, consider exploring these countryside hidden gems.

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More fun road trips in IA

Chris Muras | February 06, 2023

What are some unique places to see in Iowa?

Whether you enjoy hiking trails with scenic views and waterfalls, interesting museums, or culturally significant destinations, there is plenty to see and do in Iowa. Here are a few unique places to see in Iowa on your next road trip:

  • Maquoketa Caves State Park, Maquoketa, IA: With 13 caves to explore and six miles of hiking trails this state park has a lot to love for adventure seekers. The area is also known for its unique and diverse wildlife that includes rare species like bats, salamanders, and birds. Plus, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views from overlook points along the trails leading through the park.
  • The Loess Hills, Jackson Township, IA: The perfect hiking day trip, the Loess Hills in Iowa are a unique area formed by wind-blown silt (called loess) as glaciers retreated over the area at the end of the last ice age. This epic 650,000-acre landscape is the biggest prairie in Iowa.
  • Dyersville, Iowa: The town of Dyersville might sound familiar to you if you are a baseball movie fan. It is the home of the Field of Dreams movie site. You can visit the field and the movie-themed gift shop, then check out the rest of this charming town.
  • Iowa Waterfalls Road Trip: If you love waterfalls you'll get a kick out of this entire road trip planned around seeing some of Iowa's best waterfalls. The itinerary will take you to eight distinct waterfalls in the state.
  • Haunted Iowa Road Trip: Do you enjoy something a little more on the spooky side? If so, this road trip to see a few of the places in Iowa that are believed to be haunted might get your ghost senses tingling. The scariest places in Iowa await you on this unique road trip adventure.

 

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