By Sara Broers
I am thrilled that I have the opportunity to share my home state with you. Together, we will explore these byways, which will inspire you to hop in your car to take a scenic drive. I have found it challenging to choose a favorite route, as I have driven all of these byways and I find something new and beautiful each time I hit the road.
Around every bend in the byways, Iowa has beautiful valleys, cliffs, waterways, and roads that lead to something beautiful. From the flatlands in the North Central part of the state to the rolling hills in the Southwest, Iowa will surprise you. Each season is very distinct in Iowa, giving you the opportunity to drive the scenic highways and byways at any time of year.
Iowa is home to approximately 3.1 million people and produces more corn and eggs than any other state. Iowa also has a diverse economy, with agriculture leading the way.
Iowa Road Trips
- The Glacial Trail Scenic Byway
- Loess Hills National Scenic Byway
- Western Skies Scenic Byway
- White Pole Road Scenic Byway
- Covered Bridges Scenic Byway
- Historic Hills Scenic Byway
- Iowa Valley Scenic Byway
- Grant Wood Scenic Byway
- Delaware Crossing Scenic Byway
- River Bluffs Scenic Byway
- Driftless Area Scenic Byway
- Great River Road National Scenic Byway
- Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway
- Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway
Iowa Websites
Iowa State Parks can be found at iowadnr.org
The Glacial Trail Scenic Byway
- Prairie Heritage Center, prairieheritagecenter.org
- O’Brien County, obriencounty.com
Loess Hills National Scenic Byway
- Loess Hills Interpretive Center, westfieldiowa.com/loess.htm
- Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve, nature.org
- Five Ridge Prairie Preserve, mycountyparks.com/County/Plymouth/Park/FiveRidgePrairie.aspx
- Siouxland Historical Railroad Association, siouxcityrailroadmuseum.org
- Mid America Museum of Aviation & Transportation, midamericaairmuseum.org
- Lewis & Clark State Park Visitor Center, lewisandclarkvisitorcenter.org
- Hitchcock Nature Center, pottconservation.com/parks/hitchcocknaturecenter
- Lewis & Clark Scenic Monument Overlook, nps.gov
- Union Pacific Railroad Museum, uprrmuseum.org/uprrm
- Rails West Museum, thehistoricalsociety.org/museums/railswest.html
- Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, omaha.net/places/bobkerreypedestrianbridge
- Pony Creek Park, mycountyparks.com/County/Mills/Park/PonyCreekPark.aspx
- Waubonsie Church, genealogytrails.com/iowa/mills/waubonsiechurch.html
Western Skies Scenic Byway
- Harrison County Historical Village, nps.gov
- Historic Downtown Harlan Courthouse, iowacourts.gov
- Museum of Danish America, danishmuseum.org
- Larsen’s Pub, facebook.com/people/LarsensPub/100047775885390
White Pole Scenic Byway
- Adair, cityofadair.com
- Dexter, dexteria.org
- Stuart, stuartia.com
Covered Bridges Scenic Byway
- John Wayne Birthplace & Museum, johnwaynebirthplace.museum
- Iowa Quilt Museum, iowaquiltmuseum.org
- Madison County Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center, madisoncounty.com
- Covered Bridges of Madison County, madisoncounty.com/thecoveredbridges
Historic Hills Scenic Byway
- Rathbun Lake, recreation.gov/camping/gateways/274
- Villages of Van Buren, villagesofvanburen.com
- American Gothic House & Center, americangothichouse.org
- Appleberry Orchard, appleberryorchard.com
Iowa Valley Scenic Byway
- Amana Colonies, amanacolonies.com
- Fern Hill Gifts & Quilts Shop, fernhill.net
- Amana Furniture & Clock Shop, amanashops.com/furniture
- Ox Yoke Inn, oxyokeinn.com
- King Theatre, cinemaclock.com/theatres/kingtheatrebelleplaine
- Preston’s Station Historic District, prestonsstation.com
- Traer Salt & Pepper Shaker Gallery, traer.com/attractions
- Matchstick Marvels Museum, matchstickmarvels.com
Grant Wood Scenic Byway
- Stone City General Store Pub, generalstorepub.com
- National Motorcycle Museum, nationalmcmuseum.org
- Grant Wood Art Gallery, grantwoodgallery.org
Delaware Crossing Scenic Byway
- Bailey’s Ford Nature Center & Wildlife Exhibit, delawarecounty.iowa.gov/conservation/conservation-parks
- Manchester State Trout Hatchery, iowadnr.gov/AboutDNR/DNRStaffOffices/FishHatcheries
- Delaware Speedway, delawarespeedway.com
- Lake Delhi Recreation Area, delawarecountyiowatourism.com/lake-delhi
- Backbone State Park, iowadnr.gov/PlacestoGo/StateParks/IowaStateParks/BackboneStatePark
River Bluffs Scenic Byway
- Effigy Mounds National Monument, nps.gov
- Froehlich Village Museum, froelichtractor.com
- Montauk, iowaculture.gov/history/sites/montaukhistoricsite
- Goeken Park, mycountyparks.com/County/Fayette/Park/GoekenPark.aspx
- Barrel DriveIn, facebook.com/barrelwestunion
- Big Rock Country Club, fayetteiowa.com/events-and-recreation/big-rock-country-club.html
Driftless Area Scenic Byway
- Decorah Fish Hatchery, decorahfishhatchery.org
- Vesterheim, The National Norwegian American Museum & Heritage Center, vesterheim.org
- Mabe’s Pizza, mabespizza.com
- Decorah Prairie & Butterfly Garden, sites.google.com/site/decorahprairiebfgarden/home
- Dunning’s Springs Park, parks.decorahia.org/decorahparks
- Decorah Ice Cave, parks.decorahia.org/wpcontent/uploads/2020/01/IceCave2020rev.pdf
- Whippy Dip, facebook.com/WhippyDip52101
- Empty Nest Winery, emptynestwinery.com
- WW Homestead Dairy, wwhomesteaddairy.com
- Mount Hosmer, mylansingiowa.com/mthosmerlookoutandpark
- Horsfall Lansing Variety Store, facebook.com/HFVariety
- Driftless Area Education & Visitor Center, allamakeecountyconservation.org
Great River Road National Scenic Byway
- Upper Mississippi National Wildlife & Fish Refuge, fws.gov/refuge/uppermississippiriver
- Reno Bottoms Canoe Trail, friendsofpool9.org/canoe-trails
- Mount Hosmer, mylansingiowa.com/mt-hosmer-lookout-and-park
- Effigy Mounds National Monument, nps.gov
- Bluffview Park, mycountyparks.com/County/Allamakee/Park/BluffviewParkaspx
- Paper Moon Indie Book & Gift Store, papermoonbooks.com
- Guttenberg Fish Hatchery, iowadnr.gov/AboutDNR/DNRStaffOffices/FishHatcheries
- Breitbach’s Country Dining, breitbachscountrydining.com
- Dubuque Heritage Trail, mycountyparks.com/County/Dubuque/Park/HeritageTrail.aspx
- National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, rivermuseum.com
- Mines of Spain State Recreation Area, minesofspain.org
- Green Island Wildlife Management Area, audubon.org
- Eagle Point Park, cityofdubuque.org/573/EaglePointPark
- Mississippi River Ecotourism Center, mycountyparks.com/County/Clinton/Content/MississippiRiverEcoTourismCenter.aspx
- Buffalo Bill Museum, buffalobillmuseumleclaire.com
- Figge Art Museum, figgeartmuseum.org
- Mississippi River Trail, qctrails.org/trails/trail/mississippirivertrailiowa
- LeClaire Park, davenportiowa.com/
- Pearl Button Museum, muscatinehistory.org
- Environmental Learning Center, muscatinecountyconservation.com
- Toolesboro Mounds and Museum, naturallylouisacounty.com/
- Odessa Wildlife Complex, naturallylouisacounty.com/
- Snake Alley, burlingtoniowa.org/2311/HistoryHeritageSnakeAlley
- Old Fort Madison, oldfortmadison.org
- Heron Bend Conservation Area, leecounty.org
Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway
- Kate Shelley High Bridge, boonecounty.iowa.gov/visitors/attractions/kateshelleyhighbridge
- Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad, bsvrr.com/wp
Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway
- Historic Park Inn Hotel, historicparkinn.com