Iowa Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary

Whether you head out to explore mountains or parks, quaint small towns, wineries and breweries, lakes and beaches, camping spots, museums, or anything else, there is something liberating about a great road trip, getting out and just discovering things, taking in the sights as you drive. As an avid traveler, I know from experience how much time and effort it can take to research and plan a good trip, so we have put together some of our very best Iowa road trip ideas to inspire you and take some of the work out of it for you. You can just pick your favorite, or several, pack the car, and go!

1-Day Road Trip In Iowa

Alicia Rios/Google Local

• Route: Okoboji > Milford > Orleans > Spirit Lake > Arnolds Park
• Distance: 26.9 miles
• Trip Time: 1 hour driving time

If you are a beach lover, pick a warm summer day and spend it enjoying the beaches of Iowa Great Lakes region. Start your amazing beach day with a filling breakfast in Okoboji then spend some time at Terrace Park Beach with its wide sandy shore and warm waters. You will make your way north to Spirit Lakes for an al fresco lunch followed by a beach stroll - and swimming if you are in the mood - at Public Beach. When you are ready for dinner, enjoy some legendary BBQ, steaks, or burgers and end your beach day with a 1940s tradition, a Nutty Bar!

3-Day Weekend Road Trip In Iowa

Tom Gill/Flickr

• Route: Backbone State Park > Palisades-Kepler State Park > 3 Caves State Park
• Distance: 111 miles
• Trip Time: 2.25 hours driving time

This Iowa road trip itinerary takes you to three of Iowa’s most incredible state parks. You could drive to all three and see parts of them in a day, but these state parks are so different and each offer so much to see and explore, we recommend taking a long weekend and spending a day learning what makes each park special. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and unique architecture of Backbone State Park, where you can find wide open spaces as well as hidden glens and clear springs. Mt. Vernon’s Palisades-Kepler State Park has it all, a shady forest, small caves, a relaxing beach, and glamping cabins where you can stay the night. Lastly, get lost in the lush foliage and ancient deep caves at Maquoketa Caves State Park. This road trip is one for the bucket list.

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Greater Des Moines Road Trip

Alicia Rios/Google Local

• Route: Okoboji > Milford > Orleans > Spirit Lake > Arnolds Park
• Distance: 26.9 miles
• Trip Time: 1 hour driving time

If you are a beach lover, pick a warm summer day and spend it enjoying the beaches of Iowa Great Lakes region. Start your amazing beach day with a filling breakfast in Okoboji then spend some time at Terrace Park Beach with its wide sandy shore and warm waters. You will make your way north to Spirit Lakes for an al fresco lunch followed by a beach stroll - and swimming if you are in the mood - at Public Beach. When you are ready for dinner, enjoy some legendary BBQ, steaks, or burgers and end your beach day with a 1940s tradition, a Nutty Bar!

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Northwestern Iowa Breweries Road Trip

Jeff R/Flickr

• Route: Decorah > Calmar > Elkader > Manchester > Dubuque > Bellevue
• Distance: 150 miles
• Trip Time: 3 hours driving time

Covering just 150 miles in one little corner of the state, this is one of our more unique day trips. You are going to want to grab a designated driver before you head out on this tour of some of the best breweries in Iowa. You will start in the far north at Pulpit Rock Brewing Company to sample a few amazing ales and imperial stouts. A little farther south, you will visit the quaint little Deb’s Brewtopia where you just might be able to sample their fantastic Irish Red Ales. You will go on to other craft breweries to sample brews with names like Drug Store Cowboy and Nice Shoes. You’ll find traditional beers and seasonal blends, enjoy creative flights, and even take home your favorites. Have fun and make sure you eat along the way!

Best Iowa Road Trip For Spring

JackVandenHeuvel/iStock via Getty Images Plus

• Route: Decorah > McGregor > Solon > Gladbrook > Mason City > Decorah
• Distance: 432 miles
• Trip Time: 8.5 hours driving time

When it comes to natural beauty, this road trip through Iowa proves that this state is far more than cornfields and plains. This lovely waterfall getaway is a dreamy tour of the Hawkeye State’s pretty waterfalls, a perfect way to welcome spring. Spend a long day or several days exploring these beautiful places. Marvel at the unique terrain around Dunning’s Spring Falls. Bring along your fishing gear and spend some time at Siewers Spring Falls on the Trout Run Trail. Hike to Malanaphy Falls to enjoy the ethereal beauty of these tall falls. When you get to the unreal spring-fed Beulah Spring Falls, make time to take a one-of-a-kind boat tour through ancient caves. This route includes a visit to one of the most beautiful of Iowa’s waterfalls at Union Grove Lake, as well as a few others to round out this breathtaking trip.

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Best Summer Road Trip In Iowa

Carl Wycoff/Flickr

• Route: De Moines > Madrid > Winterset > Newton > Dubuque > Maquoketa > Harpers Ferry
• Distance: 466 miles
• Trip Time: 8.5 hours driving time

When the warm weather rolls around, there is no better time to get out and soak up some of Iowa’s natural beauty on this summer road trip. You will go from the lush botanical gardens in Des Moines to a leisurely hike through Ledges State Park. You will have the chance to buy fresh blooms from a gorgeous Madison County flower farm before heading underground to explore the fascinating Crystal Lake Cave Complex in Dubuque, and lastly, take in spectacular views from Effigy Mounds National Monument, one of the four national parks in Iowa.

Best Iowa Road Trip For Fall

Lisa Grouette/Google Local

• Route: Hamburg > Honey Creek > Missouri Valley > Jackson Township > Moorhead > Sioux City > Westfield
• Distance: 181 miles
• Trip Time: 3.5 hours driving time

When the leaves turn colors, it is time for this fall foliage excursion through the Loess Hills. The Loess Hills National Scenic Byway is always a beautiful drive, but come fall, it is a magical wonderland of color. Start with a stunning overlook or a little scenic hike in Waubonsie State Park, then head off to the Hitchcock Nature Center where you should be sure to check out the views from the birds nest observation tower. Whether you just pick a few turnouts, stop for some hiking, or just take it all in from the road, the drive through Missouri Valley, Loess Hills State Forest, and Preparation Canyon will immerse you in perfect fall beauty. The last stop is Broken Grassland Preserve where over 100 American Bison live.

Best Winter Road Trip In Iowa

Vänder Ploeg Bakery/Facebook

• Route: Storm Lake > Ames > Ankeny > West Des Moines > Pella
• Distance: 218 miles
• Trip Time: 4 hours driving time

Winter means a lot of things for families, and one of them is baking - cookies in particular. Of course, you don’t have to bake to enjoy seasonal cookies! Bakeries all over the state bake up special treats at this time of year, and this holiday cookie road trip takes you to the best of them. From the colorful butter cookies at the historic Storm Lake Bakery and the nostalgic goodies from Van Hemert’s in Ames, and the old-fashioned candy and fresh sugar cookies at Nan’s Nummies to the Dutch classics from legendary Jaarsma Bakery, you will definitely get your fill of all things sweet on this delightful cookie road trip.

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Family Friendly Iowa Road Trip

Daniel McDermott/Flickr

• Route: Altoona > Atkins > Cedar Rapids > Waterloo > Thor > Arnolds Park > Sac City > Boone
• Distance: 535 miles
• Trip Time: 9.5 hours driving time

The entire family will fall in love with Iowa when you hit the road to visit some of the most fun and exciting attractions in the Midwest along with some local culture. This family-friendly road trip starts off in Altoona at the old-fashioned amusement park, Adventureland. Explore the fun activities, exhibits, etc. of Bloomsbury Farm and visit the ultra-interactive Science Imaginarium in Waterloo’s museum district. Even dining is full of fun when you stop for hearty plates of comfort food combined with a retro video game arcade. More fun awaits at the historic theme park in Arnolds Park with its thrilling rides and maritime museum. Before the historic railroad trip finale, you will take a brief stopover to see the world’s largest popcorn ball!

Road Trip to Iowa Landmarks And Natural Wonders

scgerding/iStock via Getty Images Plus

• Route: Decorah > Harpers Ferry > McGregor > Dubuque > Maquoketa, Sabula, Muscatine
• Distance: 265miles
• Trip Time: 5 hours driving time

Prepare to see this state in a whole new light on this special road trip to Iowa’s natural wonders. Incredible limestone bluffs, waterfalls, extraordinary caves, and more will wow you as you follow the Iowa road trip map we have created for you. Have you ever seen the unbelievable Decorah Ice Cave? How about the truly unique view of the Mississippi River in Pikes Peak State Park? It is not on the official route, but as you pass through Dubuque, you could take a brief stopover at the National Mississippi River Museum and learn about this grand waterway that has been called a natural wonder itself. Then visit the Island city of Sabula on the Iowa-Illinois border. The last stop on this adventure is Wildcat Den State Park where you can actually find several amazing natural wonders.

Road Trip to Best Small Towns in Iowa

GPA Photo Archive/Flickr

• Route: Lansing > McGregor > Guttenberg > Bellevue > Le Claire > Wapello
• Distance: 242 miles
• Trip Time: 5 hours driving time

A trip along the Great River Road is something all Iowans should experience at least once. This scenic road trip takes you to six picturesque small towns, each with unique sights and activities. You will start in the northern town of Lansing where you can fuel up with some homestyle cooking before exploring the picture-perfect historic town of McGregor. Here you can walk the downtown area or venture out to take in the amazing views in Pikes Peak State Park. Watch the riverboats in Gutenberg, see some quirky sculptures in Bellevue, and enjoy a meal and a beer at the fun German restaurant, Bierstube, in the charming town of Le Claire. Lastly, you will head through Davenport to Wapello where we recommend a winery tour and tasting.

So, there you have it – our ideas for some of the best Iowa road trips you can take. Which one appeals to you most? We would also love to hear which Iowa landmarks, towns, and attractions have inspired your past road trips!

As you decide which road trip to take first, check out OnlyInYourState’s Ultimate Road Trip Packing List for our best road trip planning and packing tips. Whether you’re leaving for a single day or a week-long road trip, you can’t forget the snacks: here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling.