Posted in Iowa
January 01, 2017
9 Unforgettable Road Trips To Take In Iowa Before You Die
Who doesn’t love a good road trip? 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 for all of 2017. Below you’ll find 9 road trips through Iowa that you must take before you die.
To view the Google Map route for each trip, simply click the link under each map photo.
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.
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.
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 another piece of Iowa’s history. Get ready for a chilling and educational 4 hour and 55 minute journey through seven of Eastern Iowa’s deserted communities.
Restaurant road trip? That’s my idea of a dream weekend getaway. And Iowa provides plenty of stellar choices to visit along the way. From classic American fare to amazing burritos to Asian-inspired pizza (yes, you read that right), Iowa has some pretty amazing restaurants. This road trip is for you if you’ve wanted to get out there and sample some of the best food Iowa has to offer. The total trip takes about 10 ½ hours of drive time, so three days is plenty of time to hit all of these spots.
Iowa has many amazing places that you can explore on just one tank of gas, depending on your car’s gas mileage. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Fall 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.
For more fun activities to do in 2017, check out The 15 Places You Should Go In Iowa In 2017.
