You might not realize this, but Iowa is the home to several castles. Hop in the car and take this road trip across the state to explore them! This is the perfect itinerary for those looking for family-friendly road trips in Iowa.

Click here for the full map with directions.

The road trip starts at ends at the state's "Castle Town" of Ida Grove in Iowa. Of course, you can hop on anywhere along the way.
Google Maps
1. Ida Grove
Ida Grove, IA 51445, USA
Nels Olsen/flickr
The city of Ida Grove in Iowa proclaims itself as "The Castle Town." Several buildings throughout town were designed by Byron Godbersen in the style of small castles. The town welcomes you with this castle at its entrance on 90-IA-175, Ida Grove.

Read our full coverage on Ida Grove for more information.
2. Skate Palace, Ida Grove
203 Susan Lawrence Dr, Ida Grove, IA 51445, USA
Ida Grove
Take a break here and go skating inside this Ida Grove castle, one of the most exciting castles in Iowa! While here, you may as well go roller skating.

Read our full coverage on Skate Palace for more information.
3. Airport Hangar Castle, Ida Grove
200 Main St, Ida Grove, IA 51445, USA
Ida Grove
Check out the Airport Hangar Castle at 200-234 Main Street in Ida Grove. It's on private property, so you'll need to view it from the road.

Visit the webpage for more on Airport Hangar Castle.
4. Golf Course Bridge, Ida Grove
200 2nd St, Ida Grove, IA 51445, USA
Ida Grove
This golf course bridge at the Ida Grove Golf Club is pretty cool, right?

Visit the webpage for more on the Golf Course Bridge.

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5. Eagle Point Park, Clinton
Eagle Point Park, 3923 N 3rd St, Clinton, IA 52732, USA
CTJF83Talk/Wikimedia
Eagle Point Park in Clinton has this fun castle that you can explore. The 164-acre park overlooks the Mississippi river.

Read our full coverage on Eagle Point Park for more information.
6. Julien Dubuque Monument, Dubuque
1810 Monument Dr, Dubuque, IA 52003, USA
J. Stephen Conn/flickr
Visit the Mines of Spain Recreation Area to see the Julien Dubuque monument. It was built in 1897. The 25-foot-tall tower overlooks the Mississippi and offers some incredible views. It's a wonderful park if you're looking for day trips in Iowa.

Read our full coverage on the Julien Dubuque Monument and the hike to get there for more information.
7. Clark Tower, Winterset
Middle River Park, 2278 Clark Tower Rd, Winterset, IA 50273, USA
Bruce H/TripAdvisor
Climb the stairs up Clark Tower and feel as though you're a knight in shining armor there to rescuing a damsel in distress! This is one of the most remarkable castles in Iowa.

Visit the webpage for more on Clark Tower.
8. Backbone State Park, Dundee
Backbone State Park Beach, Iowa 52038, USA
AI/flickr
This picnic shelter at Backbone State Park looks like the perfect place for a family feast, and it boasts some great views, too. It's one of the best day trips you can take in Iowa.

Read our full coverage on Backbone State Park for more information.
9. Rockwell City Park, Rockwell City
Rockwell City Park, Rockwell City, IA 50579, USA
Ali Eminov/flickr
On your way back to Ida Grove in Iowa, stop in and play at this fun, castle-themed playground at Rockwell City Park.

Visit the webpage for more on Rockwell City Park.

You’ll surely have quite the adventure along this Castle Road Trip, one of the most family-friendly road trips in Iowa. Have you ever visited any of these castles in Iowa? Tell us about it in the comments!

If you’re interested in exploring more of Iowa, take a look at these 9 Road Trips You Must Take Before You Die.

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More to Explore

Family-Friendly Road Trips In Iowa

Melissa M. | September 08, 2021

What are some of the most unique road trips in Iowa I can take?

Iowa has numerous places that are perfect for a unique road trip. You can spend the day in the Dutch town of Pellam, tour John Wayne’s birthplace, or maybe explore the Maquoketa Caves. You can find more one-of-a-kind road trips in this article. 

What are some of the best day trips in Iowa?

Day trips are a great way to explore a part of the state especially when you have a limited amount of time. If you enjoy scenic drives, take a two-hour trip through the state’s Driftless Area where you can stop and see a waterfall, a cave, and plenty of natural beauty. You can also explore one of Iowa’s many small, charming towns like Waverly located in the northeast corner of the state.

Are there any castle-themed restaurants in Iowa?

Yes! The Castle Pub in Sioux City is a massive castle restaurant that serves some incredible pub food. It’s a fun place to have drinks and play pool and darts as well. 

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