For many UK travellers, the classic American road trip conjures images of open highways, rolling farmland, welcoming small towns and historic Main Streets where life continues at a gentler pace. It’s the America of baseball, county fairs, roadside discoveries and communities where conversations with local people can become as memorable as the attractions themselves.
Welcome to Iowa.
Set at the heart of the American Midwest, this is a destination that may not immediately appear on the radar of international travellers, yet that’s precisely what makes it so rewarding. Beyond the familiar images of farmland lies a remarkably varied state shaped by the mighty Mississippi River, vibrant cities, European heritage, spectacular landscapes, celebrated architecture and some surprisingly familiar pieces of American culture.
For travellers who love America but increasingly want to venture beyond the familiar, Iowa offers something increasingly difficult to find: the freedom to experience classic Americana without the crowds, follow the open road without a hurried itinerary and discover communities where the welcome, traditions and sense of place remain wonderfully genuine.
Made for the Open Road
Fourteen designated scenic byways weave across the state, connecting lively cities, historic river communities and welcoming small towns through ever-changing landscapes. Distances are manageable, roads are easy to navigate and there’s always another reason to stop, making Iowa particularly rewarding for a self-drive holiday.
Perhaps nowhere captures that sense of freedom better than the Great River Road. Following the Mississippi along the state’s eastern edge, this legendary route passes towering limestone bluffs, wooded islands and communities including Dubuque, Davenport and Burlington, where life has been shaped by the river for generations. Elsewhere, country roads cross rolling prairie, wooded valleys and farmland stretching towards seemingly endless Midwestern skies.
The attraction isn’t simply getting from one place to another. Take a scenic byway, turn into a historic downtown, stop at a farmers’ market or follow a road simply because you want to see where it leads. Here, the journey genuinely becomes part of the holiday.
More Familiar Than You Might Think
You may never have visited Iowa, but there’s a good chance you already know some of its stories.
Near Dyersville, a baseball diamond surrounded by cornfields became one of the most recognisable locations in American cinema. The Field of Dreams Movie Site remains remarkably faithful to the much-loved 1989 film, allowing visitors to walk onto the field, run the bases or simply sit in the bleachers beneath the wide Midwestern sky.
In Madison County, historic covered bridges scattered amongst rolling countryside inspired the bestselling novel and film The Bridges of Madison County. Nearby Winterset adds another connection to American popular culture as the birthplace of Hollywood legend John Wayne.
Architecture provides another surprise. Mason City is home to the world’s last remaining hotel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, alongside the Stockman House and an outstanding collection of Prairie School architecture.
These may be the names that initially capture your attention, but they’re only the beginning. What makes them particularly memorable is that they remain surrounded by the communities and landscapes that gave their stories a sense of place.
Cities, Culture & Communities
One of the biggest misconceptions about America’s Heartland is that its cities simply provide places to stop between rural attractions. Spend time here and a very different picture emerges.
Des Moines combines the energy of a state capital with contemporary art, excellent dining, entertainment and distinctive neighbourhoods. Iowa City became America’s first UNESCO City of Literature and remains synonymous with writing and creativity, while Cedar Rapids celebrates its Czech and Slovak heritage alongside arts, culture and imaginative urban regeneration.
Beyond the cities, the character changes again. Seven historic villages make up the Amana Colonies, where German heritage, craftsmanship and long-standing traditions remain part of community life. Pella proudly celebrates its Dutch roots, while Decorah combines Norwegian-American heritage with the wooded valleys, rivers and limestone bluffs of the northeast.
Rather than presenting a single version of the Midwest, these places reveal the different cultures, traditions and communities that have shaped it. Travelling between them can feel like discovering a collection of different stories within a single road trip.
Discover the Great Outdoors
The landscapes may be another surprise.
More than 80 state parks and recreation areas protect everything from prairie and woodland to caves, lakes and dramatic river valleys. At Maquoketa Caves State Park, trails lead through forests and an extraordinary network of caves, while Backbone State Park combines limestone bluffs, woodland and river scenery.
Western Iowa reveals something different again in the Loess Hills, where distinctive ridgelines rise dramatically above the surrounding countryside. Cyclists can take to an extensive network of trails, including the High Trestle Trail, whose spectacular former railway bridge stretches across the Des Moines River Valley and becomes even more striking when its steel frames illuminate after dark.
Then there is the Mississippi. Follow it by road, take to the water, walk beside it or simply watch bald eagles soar above it during the cooler months. Nature isn’t confined to a single headline attraction here; it becomes a constant companion throughout the journey.
Taste America’s Heartland
Agriculture has shaped this region for generations, and its influence extends far beyond the landscape.
Seasonal produce, orchard fruits, locally reared meat, artisan products and ingredients grown just a few miles away provide the foundations for a food scene rooted firmly in its surroundings. Farmers’ markets bring producers and communities together, independent restaurants celebrate the changing seasons and regional favourites such as the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich provide a taste of classic Midwest tradition. The same agricultural connection can be found in wineries, breweries and distilleries across the state, where local ingredients are increasingly being transformed into distinctive wines, beers and spirits.
For visitors, food and drink become another way of understanding the destination. The landscapes you drive through aren’t simply scenery – they’re directly connected to what eventually arrives on the plate or is poured into the glass.
Celebrate Like a Local
Few experiences capture the character of the state better than the Iowa State Fair. Held in Des Moines for 11 days each summer and attracting more than one million visitors, this enormous annual celebration brings together agriculture, livestock competitions, live entertainment, crafts, exhibitions, fairground attractions and an extraordinary array of food.
For UK visitors, it’s an opportunity to experience one of those great American traditions we’ve seen countless times on television and in films but rarely encounter for ourselves. Yet its appeal goes deeper than spectacle. Generations of families return year after year, communities proudly showcase their achievements, and agricultural traditions remain at the heart of the celebration.
Seasonal events continue throughout the year, from Pella’s colourful Tulip Time celebrations to harvest festivals, Christmas events and hometown gatherings, offering another opportunity to experience the communities behind the destination.
Why Iowa?
So why Iowa? Perhaps because it offers so much of the America we travel in search of, yet remains somewhere many of us have barely considered.
This is where baseball diamonds emerge from cornfields, covered bridges sit along peaceful country roads and historic Main Streets remain at the heart of community life. But look beyond those familiar images and another side emerges – one of contemporary art, remarkable architecture, literary culture, dramatic river landscapes, European heritage and a food and drink scene rooted firmly in the land.
You don’t have to choose between cities and countryside, culture and nature or iconic attractions and authentic local experiences. They naturally become part of the same journey. You can stand on the Field of Dreams, admire Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, follow the Mississippi River, cross historic covered bridges, discover European heritage and walk beneath limestone bluffs, all within one wonderfully varied road trip.
Whether this is your first journey through the Midwest or you’re an experienced USA traveller searching for somewhere new, Iowa offers something increasingly valuable: the chance to discover a different side of America without losing the familiar ingredients that made you want to explore it in the first place.
Start Planning Your Iowa Adventure
Ready to discover the America you didn’t know was waiting in Iowa? Our Cities, Culture & The Heart of Iowa itinerary brings together vibrant cities, historic neighbourhoods, welcoming small towns and distinctive cultural communities on an inspiring self-drive journey through the state.
Alternatively, a Discover North America Travel Specialist can create a completely bespoke itinerary around the places and experiences that inspire you most. From iconic attractions and scenic byways to the great outdoors and mighty Mississippi River, we can create a dedicated Iowa holiday or incorporate the state into a wider journey through the American Midwest.