Fall Road Trips in Iowa

Routes

Avg Distance

328 mi

Avg Drive

6h 27m

Destinations

Methodology

Routes filtered by drive score and typical seasonal conditions. Historical hazard counts pulled from FEMA disaster declarations and USGS seismic feeds; monthly weather context from NOAA 1991–2020 normals.

Data sources: OSRM • NOAA NCEI climate normals • FEMA OpenFEMA • USGS Earthquake Hazards • EIA weekly fuel survey

Last reviewed

Jun 3, 2026

0 seconds ago

Curated by the US Trip Planner editorial team.
Not sponsored; no affiliate links on this page.

Iowa in the fall offers a unique driving experience, with 30 routes averaging 328 miles and nearly 6.5 hours. These drives feature mostly flat terrain, with max elevations around 1,500 feet. Fall colors paint the landscape, making the most of the daylight hours. The routes provide a solid drive score range, with excellent EV charging available on some.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$4.22/gal

Diesel: $5.35/gal

Typical trip cost

$50–$66

One-way, ~328 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~115 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-06-01

Climate through the year: Iowa

Iowa peaks at around 86°F in Jul and cools to 31°F / 14°F in Jan. Wettest month is Jun at ~5.3 in of rain. Table highlights Fall months.

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	31	14	1.1	9.4
Feb	36	18	1.3	10.2
Mar	49	30	2.2	4.4
Apr	62	41	4	1.2
May	72	52	5.2	0.2
Jun	82	62	5.3	—
Jul	86	66	3.8	—
Aug	84	64	4.2	—
Sep peak	77	55	3.2	—
Oct peak	63	43	2.8	0.5
Nov peak	48	30	1.9	2.7
Dec	36	20	1.6	7.9

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for IA — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Planning Tips

Check the weather forecast for your route, not just your origin and destination.
Bring layers for shoulder-season travel — mornings and evenings can be much cooler than midday.
Iowa routes can vary in condition depending on the time of year. Check for construction zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've identified 30 routes in Iowa that work well for fall travel, based on drive quality, typical weather conditions, and distance (averaging 328 miles).

Current regular gas averages $4.22/gallon in Iowa (week of 2026-06-01). Diesel: $5.35/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $50 and $66. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

Across Sep, Oct, Nov, Iowa typically sees daytime highs in the 48–77°F range with about 2.6 in of rain per month on average. Based on NOAA 1991–2020 monthly climate normals.

Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.

Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

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