Scenic Drives in Iowa
Routes
60
Avg Distance
335 mi
Avg Drive
6h 32m
Destinations
36
Iowa has 60 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: 335 miles.
Fuel snapshot for this state
Regular
$3.94/gal
Diesel: $5.60/gal
Typical trip cost
$47–$62
One-way, ~335 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG
CO₂ per trip
~117 kg
ICE vehicle, one-way average
Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-08-31
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.
| 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 | 77 | 55 | 3.2 | — |
| Oct | 63 | 43 | 2.8 | 0.5 |
| Nov | 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
- 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
Top Scenic Routes
Akron, IA → Davenport, IA
Through: Minneapolis → Kansas City
George, IA → Davenport, IA
Bettendorf, IA → Osceola County, IA
Through: Waterloo
Bettendorf, IA → Sioux City, IA
Sioux City, IA → Eldridge, IA
Through: Minneapolis → Kansas City
Osceola County, IA → Davenport, IA
Davenport, IA → Sioux City, IA
Sergeant Bluff, IA → Bettendorf, IA
Through: Minneapolis → Kansas City
Davenport, IA → Orange City, IA
Through: Waterloo
Blue Grass, IA → Sioux City, IA
Sioux City, IA → Mediapolis, IA
Through: Minneapolis → Kansas City → Des Moines +1 more
Davenport, IA → Sergeant Bluff, IA
Through: Sioux City
Sioux City, IA → Muscatine, IA
Through: Minneapolis → Kansas City
Walcott, IA → Sioux City, IA
Sioux City, IA → Clinton, IA
Sioux City, IA → Camanche, IA
Davenport, IA → Hamburg, IA
Through: Omaha Nebraska
Davenport, IA → Arnolds Park, IA
Through: Waterloo → Storm Lake
Wilton, IA → Sioux City, IA
Rock Valley, IA → Dubuque, IA
Iowa City, IA → Rock Rapids, IA
Iowa City, IA → Akron, IA
Through: Sioux City
Sioux City, IA → Wapello, IA
Davenport, IA → Milford, IA
Through: Waterloo → Storm Lake
Sioux City, IA → Park View, IA
Davenport, IA → Sidney, IA
Through: Omaha Nebraska
Mount Pleasant, IA → Sioux City, IA
Through: Knoxville
Council Bluffs, IA → Waukon, IA
Through: Minneapolis → Kansas City → Bondurant +2 more
Sioux City, IA → Winfield, IA
Davenport, IA → Spirit Lake, IA
Through: Waterloo
Onawa, IA → Davenport, IA
Through: Minneapolis → Kansas City
Bettendorf, IA → Spencer, IA
Through: Waterloo → Storm Lake
Sioux Center, IA → Dubuque, IA
Council Bluffs, IA → Monona, IA
Through: Minneapolis → Kansas City → Bondurant
De Witt, IA → Sioux City, IA
George, IA → Iowa City, IA
Davenport, IA → Kingsley, IA
Through: Waterloo
Clinton, IA → Council Bluffs, IA
Through: Omaha Nebraska
Bellevue, IA → Sioux City, IA
Through: Dyersville
Dubuque, IA → Osceola County, IA
Hull, IA → Iowa City, IA
West Branch, IA → Sioux City, IA
Sheldon, IA → Dubuque, IA
Iowa City, IA → Sibley, IA
Dubuque, IA → Orange City, IA
Council Bluffs, IA → Dubuque, IA
Through: Minneapolis → Kansas City → Bondurant +1 more
Bettendorf, IA → Glenwood, IA
Through: Omaha Nebraska
Davenport, IA → Cherokee, IA
Through: Waterloo
Council Bluffs, IA → Postville, IA
Through: Minneapolis → Kansas City → Bondurant +2 more
Wellman, IA → Sioux City, IA
Iowa City, IA → Osceola County, IA
Sioux City, IA → Iowa City, IA
Through: Minneapolis → Kansas City
Council Bluffs, IA → Keokuk, IA
Through: Minneapolis → Kansas City → Des Moines +1 more
Fairfield, IA → Sioux City, IA
Through: Knoxville
Davenport, IA → Glenwood, IA
Through: Omaha Nebraska
Davenport, IA → Shenandoah, IA
Through: Harlan
Council Bluffs, IA → Elkader, IA
Through: Minneapolis → Kansas City → Bondurant
Council Bluffs, IA → Peosta, IA
Through: Minneapolis → Kansas City → Bondurant +1 more
Iowa City, IA → Orange City, IA
Lone Tree, IA → Sioux City, IA