Iowa's most interesting stops are spread out and easy to drive past. These seven sit off the main highways, in river towns, bluff country, and old mining hills. Each one is worth the detour.
1. The Driftless Region in Northeast Iowa
Glaciers flattened most of Iowa. They missed the northeast corner. This unglaciated pocket, called the Driftless region, has steep bluffs, deep valleys, cold-water trout streams, and narrow back roads.
Use Decorah as a base. The town has Norwegian roots and a walkable downtown. Dunning's Spring, a tall waterfall, is minutes from the center, and Toppling Goliath Brewing, known nationally for its hop-forward beers, is in town. A full weekend here fills up fast.
2. The Villages of Van Buren County
The historic villages of Van Buren County line the Des Moines River in southeast Iowa. Bentonsport is a preserved riverside hamlet with working artisans, antique shops, a historic inn, and a 19th-century iron bridge. No chain stores.
3. The Woodbury County Courthouse in Sioux City
The Woodbury County Courthouse, completed in 1918, is one of the largest and best-preserved examples of Prairie School architecture in the country. The interior has stained glass, terra cotta, and a domed rotunda. It is an active courthouse, open to visitors on weekdays.
4. The High Trestle Trail Bridge After Dark
The High Trestle Trail near Madrid crosses the Des Moines River valley on a half-mile bridge wrapped in blue steel geometric framing. The frames light up after sunset and create a tunnel effect over the valley. The night version is the one to plan for.
5. Snake Alley in Burlington
Snake Alley, built into a steep Burlington hillside in 1894, packs five switchback turns into a single block of brick paving. Ripley's Believe It or Not has called it the crookedest street in the world. It sits a few blocks up from the Mississippi River.
6. Maquoketa Caves State Park
Maquoketa Caves State Park, near Maquoketa in eastern Iowa, has more caves in a small area than any other park in the state. Some you can walk through standing up; others require crouching, crawling, and a flashlight. The bluff-top trails that connect them are worth the visit on their own.
7. The Loess Hills in Western Iowa
The Loess Hills run along Iowa's western edge, a ridgeline built from windblown silt. Deposits this deep exist in only one other place on Earth, in China. The hills offer hiking, scenic drives, and prairie overlooks that turn gold at sunset. The Loess Hills Scenic Byway runs the length of them.
Plan the Route
Most of these stops sit a short detour off a main route. Pack a map and link a few together for a weekend. Want more Iowa off-the-beaten-path stops like these? Sign up for the free Get Iowa newsletter.
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More from Get Iowa: Iowa's best state parks and outdoors, the Iowa bucket list, and Iowa weekend getaways.
