The Great Iowa Road Trip That Will Make Your Summer Unforgettable

The famous U.S. Route 6 is 3,652 miles long. It starts in Long Beach, California and goes through 14 states to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Our Great Iowa Road Trip is the Iowa-Only portion of Route 6. It starts in Council Bluffs at the Missouri River and goes across the middle of the state to Davenport, on the Mississippi River. You could just as easily drive it from Davenport to Council Bluffs, of course.

The portion of Old Highway 6 that goes through Iowa is 319 miles long.

Nearly 1/3 of Route 6 through Iowa overlaps the Interstate. The rest of the trip is 55 mile per hour zones full of rich and varied Iowa scenery.

The road trip starts (or ends) in Council Bluffs.

Stop and see the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, have lunch at the highly-rated and quaint Mom-n-Pop shop Duncan's Cafe, and get ice cream at Christy Creme on the way out of town. It won't do to get hungry on the road.

The charming town of Atlantic is just an hour down the road.

Stop to stretch your legs at their beautiful city park. Hungry again? We don't judge. Try the highly rated Sf Martin House for five-star food.

One hour and fifteen minutes away, the heart of our capital city awaits.

Go to the Pappajohn Sculpture park and behold the Iowa art scene. There's plenty to do, see, and eat in Des Moines, so relax and stay awhile.

If your road trip happens to fall on a Saturday, treat yourself to the Des Moines Farmers Market.

This gigantic market runs every Saturday from 7am until noon May 6th through October 28.

Another 30 mile drive gets you to the gorgeous town of Newton.

Stop at the 6-acre Newton Arboretum and Botanical Center. Enjoy their butterfly garden, demonstration gardens, hundreds of trees, pond, and native prairie.

You'll be on the road for a little more than an hour, but you'll end up in the Amana Colonies.

This is one of the longest-standing communal colonies in the United States. It was established in 1714 by German settlers. Enjoy shopping, beer and wine tasting, local craftsmanship, and excellent food.

A 35 minute drive along Highway 6 will bring you into Iowa City, home of the University of Iowa.

Here, you can stroll around the campus, take in a show at the historic Englert Theater, or just spend some quality time shopping in the Ped Mall.

Just a bit over an hour east of Iowa City is Davenport, and the eastern border of Iowa.

This green city has over 50 parks. Be sure to stop at Great River Brewing for refreshments. The Village of East Davenport is a quaint place to stroll through galleries, get a snack, and relax. Don't miss the amazing Lagomarcino's Confectionery & Cafe.

Are you ready to spend a day or two touring Route 6 through Iowa? What other great Iowa road trips are the best in our state?