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Scenic Drives in Iowa

Routes

60

Avg Distance

144 mi

Avg Drive

2h 54m

Destinations

29

Iowa has 55 routes that score 7 or higher on our drive quality scale — roads where the scenery and terrain actually make the drive worth doing. Average distance: 145 miles.

Planning Tips

Scenic routes often have fewer gas stations and services. Top off your tank before heading into mountainous or rural stretches.
Budget extra time for scenic drives — pulling over for views, photos, and short hikes is half the point.
Check weather conditions for mountain passes and high-elevation stretches, especially in shoulder seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

We rate routes on a 1-10 drive score based on elevation changes, road variety, and terrain diversity. The 55 routes listed here all score 7 or higher.

Drive times and distances come from actual road network data via OSRM. Fuel costs use current state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. All data is recalculated regularly.

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.

Top Scenic Routes

Osceola County, IA → Bettendorf, IA

369.9 mi 7h 25m Score: 8/10

Davenport, IA → Carter Lake, IA

303.2 mi 5h 41m Score: 8/10

Le Mars, IA → Iowa City, IA

300.5 mi 6h Score: 8/10

Arnolds Park, IA → Iowa City, IA

290.3 mi 5h 56m Score: 10/10

George, IA → West Des Moines, IA

263.1 mi 5h 5m Score: 10/10

Cedar Rapids, IA → Carter Lake, IA

257.8 mi 4h 58m Score: 9/10

Belle Plaine, IA → Sioux City, IA

249.9 mi 4h 57m Score: 10/10

Council Bluffs, IA → Atkins, IA

236.3 mi 4h 33m Score: 10/10

Cedar Rapids, IA → Villisca, IA

233.8 mi 4h 40m Score: 9/10

Denison, IA → Iowa City, IA

219.6 mi 4h 31m Score: 9/10

Nora Springs, IA → Sioux City, IA

214.7 mi 4h 16m Score: 8/10

Sheldon, IA → West Des Moines, IA

214.7 mi 4h 43m Score: 8/10

Forest City, IA → Sioux City, IA

201.9 mi 4h 14m Score: 8/10

Hampton, IA → Davenport, IA

192 mi 3h 54m Score: 9/10

Iowa Falls, IA → Bettendorf, IA

191.5 mi 3h 41m Score: 10/10

Creston, IA → Waterloo, IA

191.1 mi 4h 1m Score: 9/10

Sioux City, IA → Washington, IA

176.8 mi 3h 32m Score: 10/10

Epworth, IA → Ankeny, IA

174.4 mi 3h 38m Score: 9/10

Coo n Rapids, IA → Cedar Rapids, IA

173.6 mi 3h 37m Score: 8/10

Stuart, IA → Sioux City, IA

160.1 mi 2h 55m Score: 8/10

Mechanicsville, IA → West Des Moines, IA

151.7 mi 2h 52m Score: 9/10

Saint Ansgar, IA → Des Moines, IA

150.4 mi 2h 59m Score: 8/10

Oskaloosa, IA → Bettendorf, IA

144.2 mi 2h 52m Score: 9/10

Mount Pleasant, IA → Ankeny, IA

142.9 mi 2h 51m Score: 8/10

Webster City, IA → Sioux City, IA

135.6 mi 2h 45m Score: 8/10

Urbandale, IA → Carter Lake, IA

134.2 mi 2h 34m Score: 8/10

Des Moines, IA → Springville, IA

132.5 mi 2h 41m Score: 8/10

Cedar Rapids, IA → Bloomfield, IA

127.7 mi 2h 43m Score: 9/10

Ames, IA → Avoca, IA

127.3 mi 2h 23m Score: 8/10

Ankeny, IA → Villisca, IA

122.6 mi 2h 31m Score: 9/10

Ames, IA → Springville, IA

121.3 mi 2h 26m Score: 8/10

Fairfield, IA → Ankeny, IA

119.9 mi 2h 25m Score: 8/10

Ankeny, IA → Iowa City, IA

116 mi 2h 13m Score: 8/10

Des Moines, IA → Iowa City, IA

113.7 mi 2h 10m Score: 8/10

Ames, IA → Algona, IA

107.6 mi 2h 17m Score: 8/10

Iowa Falls, IA → Cedar Rapids, IA

106.1 mi 2h 4m Score: 9/10

Altoona, IA → Iowa City, IA

104 mi 1h 57m Score: 8/10

Cedar Rapids, IA → Charles City, IA

103.1 mi 2h 2m Score: 8/10

Hampton, IA → West Des Moines, IA

100.2 mi 1h 57m Score: 8/10

Eagle Grove, IA → West Des Moines, IA

99.6 mi 2h 1m Score: 7/10

Centerville, IA → Urbandale, IA

94.3 mi 2h 12m Score: 9/10

Ankeny, IA → Atlantic, IA

90.8 mi 1h 49m Score: 7/10

Ames, IA → Mason City, IA

90.4 mi 1h 45m Score: 7/10

Fort Madison, IA → Iowa City, IA

86.8 mi 1h 49m Score: 7/10

Maquoketa, IA → Iowa City, IA

86.4 mi 1h 42m Score: 7/10

Story City, IA → Waterloo, IA

85.5 mi 1h 41m Score: 7/10

Oakland, IA → West Des Moines, IA

82.7 mi 1h 43m Score: 7/10

Epworth, IA → Davenport, IA

82 mi 1h 44m Score: 7/10

Waterloo, IA → Iowa City, IA

81.9 mi 1h 38m Score: 7/10

Ames, IA → Brooklyn, IA

81.3 mi 1h 45m Score: 9/10

Camanche, IA → Iowa City, IA

81.1 mi 1h 42m Score: 8/10

Waterloo, IA → Webster City, IA

79.7 mi 1h 36m Score: 7/10

Sibley, IA → Sioux City, IA

76.5 mi 1h 34m Score: 7/10

Waverly, IA → Marion, IA

75.5 mi 1h 32m Score: 7/10

West Des Moines, IA → Lamoni, IA

72.4 mi 1h 24m Score: 7/10

Fairfield, IA → Iowa City, IA

71.2 mi 1h 29m Score: 9/10

Waterloo, IA → Anamosa, IA

69 mi 1h 26m Score: 7/10

Ames, IA → Carroll, IA

67.7 mi 1h 32m Score: 7/10

Cedar Rapids, IA → Columbus Junction, IA

63.4 mi 1h 18m Score: 7/10

Urbandale, IA → Marshalltown, IA

55 mi 1h 11m Score: 7/10

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