Iowa · 21 Places · Best May, June, September, October
Iowa
Iowa is a heartland state of rolling prairies, covered bridges, and charming small cities anchored by a surprisingly vibrant Des Moines arts and food scene. Home to the world-famous Iowa State Fair, Grant Wood country, the Field of Dreams movie site, and the historic Amana Colonies, Iowa rewards visitors who look beyond the cornfields to find genuine Midwestern character.
Iowa occupies the heart of the American Corn Belt, bounded by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River to the west. Des Moines has emerged as one of the Midwest's most livable and culinarily adventurous cities, with a nationally recognized restaurant scene, world-class art institutions, and a walkable downtown anchored by the Principal Riverwalk. Iowa City serves as a college-town hub with Big Ten energy and a thriving literary culture as a UNESCO City of Literature. The Amana Colonies offer a rare window into 19th-century communal German pietist life, while the Madison County covered bridges, immortalized in the Robert James Waller novel, draw romantics from across the country. The Iowa State Fair in August is one of the premier state fairs in America, drawing over a million visitors annually.
The 21 destinations our editors recommend — from iconic landmarks to under-the-radar finds.
Iowa State Fair
This is one of the largest state fairs in the country, running for eleven days each August on the Des Moines fairgrounds with livestock competitions, carnival rides, and the butter cow sculpture that has been a fixture since the early 1900s. It began as an agricultural showcase and still centers on 4-H and FFA competitions alongside the midway and grandstand concerts. Expect long days of walking between barns, food stands serving fair staples on a stick, and crowds that build through the afternoon and evening.
Field of Dreams Movie Site
This is the actual farm and baseball diamond built for the 1989 film of the same name, kept largely as it appeared on screen with the cornfield still bordering the outfield. Fans walk out from the corn rows onto the infield and dugouts, and the site has stayed a low-key pilgrimage stop for baseball and movie fans rather than a built-up attraction. A gift shop occupies the old farmhouse-adjacent building, but the diamond itself is the draw.
Amana Colonies
The Amana Colonies are a set of seven villages founded in the 1850s by a German Pietist religious community that lived communally until 1932, and the settlement pattern of communal kitchens, wineries, and workshops is still visible in the brick and sandstone buildings. Today the villages combine working shops, restaurants serving German-influenced family-style meals, and small museums explaining the communal era. It's a walkable, low-key day out rather than a single attraction, with the different villages spread over a few miles.
Madison County Covered Bridges
Madison County has several 19th-century wooden covered bridges scattered across its rural roads, built with wooden trusses and roofed to protect the structure from weather, and they became internationally known after the novel and film 'The Bridges of Madison County' were set among them. Visiting means driving a loop between bridges rather than seeing one central site, with the county welcome center in Winterset providing maps and background. Some bridges sit right off paved roads while others require a short walk or gravel-road detour.
Effigy Mounds National Monument
This site protects more than 200 Native American mounds built between roughly 500 BCE and 1200 CE along the Mississippi River bluffs, including a number shaped like bears and birds rather than the simple conical mounds found elsewhere in the region. Trails climb from the visitor center up into the bluff-top woods where the mounds are laid out along ridgelines overlooking the river valley. It's a hiking-based visit rather than a museum stop, with the effigy shapes best appreciated on foot at ground level since they aren't dramatic from a distance.
Pella Windmill & Historical Village
Pella was settled by Dutch immigrants in 1847, and this site centers on a working Dutch windmill alongside a cluster of historical village buildings relocated or built to recreate the town's early Dutch-American character. The windmill grinds grain and is one of the taller working windmills of its type outside the Netherlands, while the surrounding village includes period shops and homes furnished to the era. It ties into the town's broader Dutch heritage, most visible each May during Pella's tulip festival.
Recommended itineraries
Pick a length, follow the route. Each itinerary balances headline sights with breathing room.
5-Day Iowa Explorer
Day 1Arrive in Iowa, explore city center
Day 2Visit top attractions and museums
Day 3Day trip to nearby highlights
Day 4Local markets and hidden gems
Day 5Final sightseeing, departure
7-Day Classic Iowa
Days 1-2Iowa city highlights
Days 3-4Regional exploration
Days 5-6Cultural immersion and local experiences
Day 7Return and departure
14-Day Ultimate Iowa
Days 1-3Iowa comprehensive city tour
Days 4-6Northern region exploration
Days 7-9Eastern highlights
Days 10-12Southern attractions
Days 13-14Return to Iowa, departure
Where to stay in Iowa
Three tiers, every traveller covered — from cost-conscious to flagship hotels.
Budget $65
Hostels, budget hotels, and guesthouses offer affordable stays without sacrificing experience.
Mid-range $175
Boutique hotels and well-located accommodations provide comfort and convenience at reasonable prices.
Luxury $420+
World-class resorts and premium hotels deliver unforgettable experiences.
Cafés, neighbourhood gems, and tasting menus worth the table reservation.
Proof Restaurant
Contemporary American · $$$$
A chef-driven dining room in Des Moines' East Village that built its name on locally sourced, ingredient-led plates rather than a fixed theme. The kitchen leans on Iowa's agricultural strength, turning out precise, seasonally shifting menus in a modern, understated room built for a special-occasion night rather than a quick bite.
Zombie Burger + Drink Lab
American / Burgers · $$
A loud, pop-culture-themed burger joint in the East Village where every item on the menu carries a horror-movie pun. It's a booth-and-counter, order-at-the-register kind of place aimed at a fun night out rather than a quiet dinner, with a menu built around towering specialty burgers and thick milkshakes.
Devotay
Spanish / Mediterranean Tapas · $$$
A small, longstanding Iowa City tapas restaurant built around Spanish and Mediterranean small plates rather than a single entree-driven menu. The space is intimate and unpretentious, with a wine list that leans into natural and lesser-known bottles to match the shared-plates format.
Centro
Italian-American · $$$
A downtown Des Moines Italian-American mainstay on Locust Street that has anchored the city's dining scene for years, known for a lively, see-and-be-seen dining room with an open kitchen. The food centers on wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta rather than heavy red-sauce classics.
Django
French Bistro · $$$
A downtown Des Moines French bistro serving classic brasserie dishes - steak frites, mussels, croque monsieur - in a room styled after a Parisian bistro rather than a fine-dining setting. It's built for a relaxed but polished dinner rather than a quick meal.
Iowa is best explored by rental car; public transit is minimal outside Des Moines. Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is the primary gateway. I-80 and I-35 are the major interstates. Cedar Rapids/Iowa City regional airport (CID) serves eastern Iowa.
Rental Car
Essential for Iowa travel; major agencies at Des Moines (DSM) and Cedar Rapids (CID) airports
Cost: $35-75/day
DART (Des Moines)
Des Moines Area Regional Transit bus network covering the metro area
Cost: $1.75 per ride
Greyhound/FlixBus
Intercity bus service connecting Iowa City, Des Moines, and Davenport
Cost: $15-45 per trip
Uber/Lyft
Available in Des Moines, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport; limited in rural areas
Cost: $8-22 for city trips
Amtrak California Zephyr
Stops in Osceola, Creston, Ottumwa, Burlington (daily Chicago-Denver train)
Cost: $35-150 per segment
Budget breakdown
Daily spend by tier in USD, broken out by category.
Category
Budget
Mid-range
Luxury
Accommodation
$30
$110
$250
Food (per day)
$20
$45
$100
Transportation
$10
$15
$45
Activities
$5
$25
$50
Daily total
$65
$175
$420+
Best time to visit Iowa
Weather through the year in United States
Best timeShoulderWorth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for United States.
Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures for touring. The Iowa State Fair in August draws massive crowds. Iowa City is most vibrant during the academic year.
Essential travel tips
Rent a car — Iowa's major attractions are spread across the state and public transit is limited outside Des Moines
Book accommodation months in advance if visiting during the Iowa State Fair in August
The Des Moines Farmers Market (Saturdays, April-October) is one of the best in the Midwest and a great morning stop
Iowa City is best visited during the university academic year (September-April) for maximum energy and events
The Amana Colonies make an excellent half-day trip from Iowa City or a full day from Des Moines
Hidden gems
Off-the-beaten-path corners most travellers miss.
Pella's Dutch Heritage
A town of 10,000 that retains genuine Dutch architecture, a working windmill, and the spectacular Tulip Time Festival each May
Pella
Backbone State Park
Iowa's oldest state park, featuring a dramatic limestone ridge called the Backbone rising 80 feet above a clear trout stream
Dundee
Effigy Mounds National Monument
Over 200 Native American burial mounds — many shaped as animals — perched above the Mississippi River bluffs
Harpers Ferry
Safety information
INFO
Download the Iowa Emergency Alert app or follow @NWSDesMoines on social media for tornado watches April through June
INFO
Check Iowa DOT road conditions at 511ia.org before winter driving — black ice forms rapidly on bridges
INFO
Use standard urban precautions in downtown Des Moines and Davenport's riverfront area after midnight
INFO
Wildlife crossings are common on rural highways especially at dawn and dusk — watch for deer
INFO
Carry sufficient water when hiking in summer — Iowa humidity can cause rapid dehydration
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Iowa?
Entry requirements follow United States rules. Citizens from Visa Waiver Program countries may enter visa-free for up to 90 days under ESTA (apply at esta.cbp.dhs.gov, fee $21). All others require a valid US visa — contact the nearest US Embassy or consulate.
What currency is used in Iowa?
The currency is the US Dollar (USD). ATMs are available at all banks and most convenience stores. Credit cards are accepted everywhere. Farmers markets often prefer cash; bring small bills.
What language is spoken in Iowa?
English is the official language of Iowa. Spanish is spoken in communities with significant Latino populations, particularly in Storm Lake, Postville, and parts of Des Moines.
What are the top attractions in Iowa?
Top attractions include the Iowa State Fair (August), the Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, the Amana Colonies near Iowa City, the Madison County Covered Bridges in Winterset, and Effigy Mounds National Monument along the Mississippi River.
