Posted in Iowa
January 01, 2017
8 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 all year long. Below you’ll find 8 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.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
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.
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.
Ready to hop in the car to explore Iowa’s coolest attractions? Where do you go when you hit the road? Let us know in the comments below!
