This Scenic Road Trip In Iowa Is Full Of Scenery And Adventure

Summer is a great time to hit the road for a scenic road trip in Iowa. Iowa’s big woods, river bluffs, and rolling prairie hold some amazing surprises for those embarking on a road trip. Some of these stops may be old favorites, and others may be undiscovered gems, but there is something on this scenic road trip for every traveler who wants to see Iowa like never before.

Get ready to hit the road on a scenic road trip in Iowa that will take you to the state’s most scenic views.

Self-generated/Google Maps The total driving for this road trip is 8 hours and 18 minutes. Don’t forget your winter travel essentials if you head out to see the Iowa scenery during cold weather months.

We’ll start out at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, the state’s defining location for plant lovers.

Management/TripAdvisor

Under the roof of the massive arboretum, you’ll find hundreds of species of native and rare plants on display.

Krishna K/TripAdvisor Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Next, drive north to Ledges State Park, the perfect site for a relaxing hike in Iowa.

Cryptic_Tourist/TripAdvisor

The old cobblestone bridges will take you past impressive natural rock formations and lush Iowa woods.

Management/TripAdvisor Ledges State Park, P Avenue, Madrid, IA, USA

South of Des Moines, you’ll find PepperHarrow Farms, a working flower farm with stunning views of the prairie.

PepperHarrow/Facebook

During spring and summer, it sells flowers to the entire area - so make sure to pick up some for that special someone back home.

PepperHarrow/Facebook PepperHarrow Farm, 1809 S 4th Ave, Winterset, IA 50273, USA

On your way across Iowa, make sure to stop at Newton Family Restaurant, an old-school diner by the roadside.

Newton Family Restaurant/Facebook

It might not look like much on the outside, but the locals swear by its large, filling portions of country cooking.

Newton Family Restaurant/Facebook Newton Family Restaurant, 1st Avenue East, Newton, IA, USA

Next, it’s time to head below ground - literally - at the Crystal Lake Cave complex in Dubuque.

Mark A/TripAdvisor

Inside this vast cave network, you’ll find impressive collections of stalactites and stalagmites that have been growing for centuries.

Heidimb81/TripAdvisor Crystal Lake Cave Road, Dubuque, IA, USA

Time for a meal with a view at the Bluff Lake Catfish Farm, one of the state’s best dockside dining options in Maquoketa.

IowaAdvisor 50021/TripAdvisor

On the menu? Fresh fried catfish and other specialties. Make sure to keep an eye out for their famous all-you-can-eat special.

Cigar 614/TripAdvisor Bluff Lake Catfish Farm, 9301 95th Ave, Maquoketa, IA 52060, USA

Fortified for the road ahead, head north to your final destination - Iowa’s only national monument.

AndyB5542/TripAdvisor

The view from Effigy Mounds is truly one-of-a-kind, and the chance to explore the human history of the Hawkeye State, and walk the land occupied by its ancient peoples, is humbling.

Management/TripAdvisor Effigy Mounds National Monument, Iowa 76, Harpers Ferry, IA, USA

Although this scenic road trip in Iowa only takes a little more than eight hours, in terms of driving time, don’t forget to allow time for each stop, so you can soak in all that Iowa’s most scenic places have to offer. Take a whole day, or even a long weekend, for the trip, so you can truly enjoy and appreciate the Hawkeye State’s beauty.

Self-generated/Google Maps

The total driving for this road trip is 8 hours and 18 minutes. Don’t forget your winter travel essentials if you head out to see the Iowa scenery during cold weather months.

Management/TripAdvisor

Krishna K/TripAdvisor

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Cryptic_Tourist/TripAdvisor

Ledges State Park, P Avenue, Madrid, IA, USA

PepperHarrow/Facebook

PepperHarrow Farm, 1809 S 4th Ave, Winterset, IA 50273, USA

Newton Family Restaurant/Facebook

Newton Family Restaurant, 1st Avenue East, Newton, IA, USA

Mark A/TripAdvisor

Heidimb81/TripAdvisor

Crystal Lake Cave Road, Dubuque, IA, USA

IowaAdvisor 50021/TripAdvisor

Cigar 614/TripAdvisor

Bluff Lake Catfish Farm, 9301 95th Ave, Maquoketa, IA 52060, USA

AndyB5542/TripAdvisor

Effigy Mounds National Monument, Iowa 76, Harpers Ferry, IA, USA

Are there any must-see stops on your Iowa road trip plans this year? Let us know all about your travels in the comments section. Many of these stops may have special offers throughout the year, so keep an eye on Iowa’s official tourism website to see what’s available and to make sure you don’t miss a single opportunity.

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Ideas For A Scenic Road Trip In Iowa February 08, 2023 Trent Jonas Iowa’s Most Scenic Places

You’ll find Iowa’s most scenic places in just about every corner of the state, from the Missouri to the Mississippi, and from the driftless area to Des Moines - beauty abounds in the Hawkeye State, and the best way to see as much of it as possible is to take a road trip. Drive through some of the Hawkeye State’s most amazing natural wonders. Or just head out on one of Iowa’s bucolic country roads, and see where it leads you.

Iowa Scenery

There is some truly stunning Iowa scenery out there. You’ll find it along river bluffs, the rolling prairies, in caves, and yes, even in the form of waterfalls, of which there are several in the state. In fact, you can see many of the state’s most scenic caves and waterfalls in a single road trip.

What’s The Best Road Trip In Iowa?

There’s really no way of choosing the single best road trip in Iowa. Frankly, we recommend that you take several road trips a year so you can experience what the state has to offer in each season. A drive across the entire state will show you a lot, but there will still be much left to explore. So, get out, hit the road, and have a Hawkeye State adventure.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Ideas For A Scenic Road Trip In Iowa

February 08, 2023

Trent Jonas

Iowa’s Most Scenic Places

You’ll find Iowa’s most scenic places in just about every corner of the state, from the Missouri to the Mississippi, and from the driftless area to Des Moines - beauty abounds in the Hawkeye State, and the best way to see as much of it as possible is to take a road trip. Drive through some of the Hawkeye State’s most amazing natural wonders. Or just head out on one of Iowa’s bucolic country roads, and see where it leads you.

Iowa Scenery

There is some truly stunning Iowa scenery out there. You’ll find it along river bluffs, the rolling prairies, in caves, and yes, even in the form of waterfalls, of which there are several in the state. In fact, you can see many of the state’s most scenic caves and waterfalls in a single road trip.

What’s The Best Road Trip In Iowa?

There’s really no way of choosing the single best road trip in Iowa. Frankly, we recommend that you take several road trips a year so you can experience what the state has to offer in each season. A drive across the entire state will show you a lot, but there will still be much left to explore. So, get out, hit the road, and have a Hawkeye State adventure.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

You’ll find Iowa’s most scenic places in just about every corner of the state, from the Missouri to the Mississippi, and from the driftless area to Des Moines - beauty abounds in the Hawkeye State, and the best way to see as much of it as possible is to take a road trip. Drive through some of the Hawkeye State’s most amazing natural wonders. Or just head out on one of Iowa’s bucolic country roads, and see where it leads you.

Iowa Scenery

There is some truly stunning Iowa scenery out there. You’ll find it along river bluffs, the rolling prairies, in caves, and yes, even in the form of waterfalls, of which there are several in the state. In fact, you can see many of the state’s most scenic caves and waterfalls in a single road trip.

What’s The Best Road Trip In Iowa?

There’s really no way of choosing the single best road trip in Iowa. Frankly, we recommend that you take several road trips a year so you can experience what the state has to offer in each season. A drive across the entire state will show you a lot, but there will still be much left to explore. So, get out, hit the road, and have a Hawkeye State adventure.