Fall is here, and that means basking in the glorious beauty of the fall colors in Iowa. It’s no shock that with all of Iowa’s beautiful state parks and wooded areas, there are so many places to enjoy this beautiful annual experience. The natural areas of Iowa really love to show off at the end of the year, so here’s a fun road trip to see some of the best fall foliage in Iowa. Although the trip itself comes in at close to six hours, we’d recommend breaking up the experience and stopping where you feel led to see Iowa in the fall. There’s nothing like the introduction of inspired improvisation on a fall foliage road trip in Iowa.

Looking for directions? Follow our fall foliage road trip through Iowa with our map!

The Iowa Fall Foliage Route
GoogleMaps
This road trip covers 285 miles and has roughly six hours of driving time. While the trip could technically be done in one day, planning for two days will make it a more leisurely experience. Plus, if you extend the trip, you have the chance to more thoroughly experience the hiking and visual fun of an Iowa autumn.
1. Wildcat Den State Park
1884 Wildcat Den Rd, Muscatine, IA 52761, USA
Jeff Svejda/AllTrails
This Iowa fall foliage journey begins at Wildcat Den State Park in Muscatine. Wildcat Den State Park has an extensive trail system with plenty of wooded areas for leaf peeping, along with a view of 75-foot cliffs and rock formations. It's perfect for a few photos, and its natural majesty is truly grand.

Get a closer look at this beautiful area:

2. Lake Macbride State Park
3525 Hwy 382 NE, Solon, IA 52333, USA
Flickr/Rich Herrmann
Our next stop is Lake Macbride State Park! This low-key park is a great place to view beautiful fall colors next to the quiet serenity of a lake. There are multi-use trails that wind around the lake for miles where you can enjoy the leaves, as well as wildlife and other natural beauty. This is a must-visit for all of the avid hikers out there who are looking to indulge in a fall foliage walk through the woods.
3. Palisades-Kepler State Park
700 Kepler Dr, Mt Vernon, IA 52314, USA
Flickr/Phil Roeder
Palisades-Kepler is a great place to look at the fall colors in Iowa. This enchanting park is full of rugged wooded areas, as well as hiking trails where you can wander around and enjoy all of the scenic beauty. Perhaps one of the best places to see fall foliage in Iowa, this is one spot that's great for families and individuals alike.

Get an aerial view of the fall colors here:

4. Wapsipinicon State Park
21301 Co Rd E34, Anamosa, IA 52205, USA
Flickr/jdurchen
The beautiful Wapsipinicon State Park was one of Iowa’s first state parks. There are plenty of trees so you can enjoy a blanket of fall color. Of course, with the addition of radical limestone bluffs, you’ll have an amazing overlook where you can take in a panorama of the beauty below. The differentiation between the wild oranges of the trees and the rushing rivers truly looks like something out of a movie.
5. Maquoketa Caves State Park
9688 Caves Rd, Maquoketa, IA 52060, USA
Jenna Elmore/AllTrails
Maquoketa Caves State Park is one of the most magical and beautiful parks in the state. Covered in a true canopy of trees and striped with miles of beautiful hiking trails, you’ll be able to soak in the fall splendor. Just make sure not to trip while you’re looking up! There are also caves to explore if you want to spend some extra time in the park.

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6. Bellevue State Park
800 Carr Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809, USA
Flickr/Phil Roeder
Bellevue State Park is located along the banks of the Mississippi River, just south of Bellevue. With high bluffs and amazing views of the river, you’ll be sure to see plenty of amazing fall foliage. This is another great stop for families!

Get a bird’s-eye view of this lovely park:

7. Where to stay: Mont Rest Inn
300 Spring St, Bellevue, IA 52031, USA
Facebook/Mont Rest Bed & Breakfast
When you get to Bellevue, you may want to call it a day and spend the night. Mont Rest Inn is an interesting and beautiful bed and breakfast in Bellevue. The building is a Victorian-style inn built in the 1890s, so you know it’s full of charm, historical details, and quaint guest rooms. It's highly affordable and completely charming, but we'd recommend this more if you're traveling as a couple or without small children.
8. Mines of Spain Recreation Area
10426 Mines of Spain Rd, Dubuque, IA 52003, USA
Flickr/Dustin Oliver
Day two begins in Dubuque! With miles of trails, woods, prairie, limestone bluffs, and scenic overlooks, you’ll love the fall scenery at Mines of Spain Recreation Area.
9. Pikes Peak State Park
32264 Pikes Peak Rd, McGregor, IA 52157, USA
Flickr/Neal Wellons
You’ll continue your trip along the Mississippi River at Pikes Peak State Park. This park is definitely one of the most breathtaking state parks in Iowa. You’ll see fall leaves all along the trail that leads to a scenic overlook.
10. Effigy Mounds National Monument
151 IA-76, Harpers Ferry, IA 52146, USA
Flickr/Travis
A little further north, you’ll find the Effigy Mounds National Monument. This destination is as interesting as it is beautiful. Not only will you indulge in the best fall foliage in Iowa, but you'll have a thorough history lesson to boot! What a treat tucked away in the heart of the American midwest.
11. Dunning’s Spring Park
Dunning's Spring Park, Ice Cave Rd, Decorah, IA 52101, USA
Trent Jonas/Google Photos
The final stop on the road trip is in charming Decorah, Iowa. This area is full of natural beauty, from rugged limestone bluffs to heavily wooded areas. Dunning’s Spring Park has trails leading you through a magical canopy of autumn beauty, as well as a waterfall. If you’re hungry at the end of your travels, be sure to stop in Decorah and choose from a wide variety of great restaurants like La Rana or Mabe’s Pizza.

You can check out the route map, but make sure that you’re adding on your own fun experiences throughout this lovely fall foliage road trip. Have some personal tips on finding the best fall foliage in Iowa? Leave them in the comments!

Looking for some other amazing Iowa fall activities? Check out these charming apple orchards in Iowa.

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More to Explore

Best Fall Foliage In Iowa

Meghan Kraft | August 17, 2019

What is the best time to see peak fall foliage in Iowa?

The best time to see peak fall foliage in Iowa is in late October and early November.

Peak fall foliage differs depending on the year, but most folks report a fiery peak in Iowa in the last weeks of October, with the color petering off into early November.

Where are the best places in Iowa to see fall foliage?

The best places to see fall foliage include:

  • Des Moines
  • Iowa City
  • Jester Park
  • Driftless Area Scenic Byway
  • Loess Hills
  • Iowa River

It's hard to choose just a handful of places to see beautiful fall foliage in Iowa. If you're looking for cities, you can't go wrong with Des Moines or Iowa City, two darling towns that are known for their character and beauty. Jester Park in Granger is fabulous for a quick horseback ride through the fiery hues of autumn, and a hike through the Driftless Area Scenic Byway in Northeastern Iowa is perhaps one of the most underrated beauties in the state. The Loess Hills in Western Iowa is a beautiful spot to visit in the fall, and if you'd like to see the colors by boat? Take a cruise down the Iowa River from Iowa Falls on the Scenic City Empress.

What are the best Iowa hikes to take in the fall?

The best Iowa hikes to take in the fall include:

  • Wildcat Den State Park
  • Maquoketa Caves State Park
  • Ledges State Park

The hiking experience in Iowa is top-notch no matter what time of year, but we'd recommend visiting the four miles of trails at Wildcat Den State Park, 12.5 miles at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, or the above and below ground beauty of Maquoketa Caves State Park. Ledges State Park is full of natural history as well as some of the best fall foliage in Iowa, and is highly recommended for scenic overlooks of the Des Moines River.

 

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