3 Small Towns in Iowa So Dreamy, You’ll Swear You’ve Seen Them on TV

Iowa might reign supreme when it comes to small-town charm. A recent survey revealed that we have 940 small towns with populations under 5,000 residents. And with one third of our population living in them, there’s always a huge debate over which dreamy small towns in Iowa are the best. I wouldn’t dare proclaim myself the expert on the topic, but I do know of a few small towns no one is talking about that I think are pretty special, dare I say, dreamy. 

1. Sabula

It’s not every day that you hear "Iowa" and "island" in the same sentence, but that’s precisely what Sabula is—Iowa’s only island city on the only island in Iowa. Despite living just 2 hours away from it my entire Iowa life, I hadn’t heard of Sabula until a few years ago, when a woman from Sabula won $100,000 in the Iowa Lottery. She was the second person in recent history to win the lottery in Sabula. A quarter-century earlier, another family won more than $31 million. 

For a town of around 500 residents, with two big lottery winners, it’s starting to look like Sabula is a very lucky town. It was all over TV, and my husband got the idea that we should stop there next time we were close by to buy a lottery ticket. That’s become a tradition for us now, and many other Iowa families, too. But the truth is, I only agree because I’ll take any opportunity I can get to drive Highway 52 along its 5-mile stretch across the Mississippi River. To me, it’s the Iowa version of the Florida Keys. Especially in mid-summer, you see nothing but kayakers and birds, sailboats, and pontoons bobbing in the water between trees and grassy sand bars. 

Last summer, we made a point of spending a whole day in Sabula, hanging out at the marina and park, fishing, eating ice cream, and lolling around the shops. It really is the cutest darn town with a unique waterfront vibe, making it top my list of dreamy small towns in Iowa. 

2. Elgin

Next on the list is a small town in the Driftless Area, arguably Iowa's most scenic region. The region is rich in charm, thanks to its combination of historic townships and abundant nature, but there’s a certain spot that stands out to me a little more than the rest. It’s another tiny town (population under 700), locally known as Iowa’s Little Switzerland, called Elgin, cradled in the curves of the Turkey River. The sleepy main street features a colorful Swiss clock, an old-fashioned grocery market, a traditional hardware store, and Dotzy’s Saloon with cast-iron meals. But my favorite place is just over the river, and across the pedestrian bridge to Gilbertson Park. It’s a wonderful campground, playground, and park with modern camping and paved biking trails that connect to the nearby Gilbertsont Nature Center (with a Junior Ranger program). The biking trails were what first led me here, 12 miles of paved trails, part of the Turkey River Recreational Corridor. 

We’ve returned to this dreamy small town in Iowa several times, basing ourselves here to explore the surrounding lesser-visited parts of the Driftless Area. Within driving distance are the Big Spring Trout Hatchery, Echo Valley State Park, Backbone State Park, plus the Motor Mill and Montauk Historic Sites.

3. Winterset

Likely better known than the other towns listed here, Winterset tops out at just over 5,000 residents. But I still bring it up as a hidden gem because the road trippers who do find themselves here are often in pursuit of the trail of historic Madison County bridges, one of which is located in the Winterset City Park. For many, it’s a hop out of the car type of thing, as they scurry off to see the other five bridges, which can take half a day of scavenger hunting along rural roads. I should know, as that’s exactly how I experienced Winterset the first several times I came through. But the last time my family went, we paused awhile in Winterset, discovering that the park surrounding the Cutler-Donahue Bridge actually includes a 76-acre green space with an English hedge maze and the Clark Tower castle.  

Beyond the outdoor adventure, Winterset also boasts its National Historic Courthouse District, charming boutique shops in heritage buildings, a brewery, a winery, two taprooms, plus a handful of fascinating museums, including the John Wayne Birthplace and the Iowa Quilt Museum. And if there’s a dreamy small town in Iowa that makes you feel like you’re on a TV set, it’s Winterset, one of the primary backdrops for the movie The Bridges of Madison County. 

Looking for more road-trip worthy small towns in Iowa? Let Only In Your State's AI-powered itinerary planner be your guide.