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Every stop worth the detour.
The crowd-favorite places that make a drive worth remembering — waterfalls, beaches, hot springs, hikes, scenic landmarks, dining, breweries, ballparks and more. Browse by category or state, find what's near you, and plan the detour with Roamward.
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38 stopsIA
Sources: 38 Roamward guides · live place map
GolfA.H. BlankIA · publicA well-kept city municipal.View guide →GolfAmana ColoniesIA · publicA wooded course in the historic colonies.View guide →Roadside AmericanaIowa 80 (World’s Largest Truckstop)IA · Roadside OddityA truck-stop city with its own trucking museumView guide →CyclingHigh Trestle TrailIA · Rail-traila half-mile artful bridge high over the Des Moines River valleyView guide →HikesBackbone State ParkIA · Moderatea narrow rock ridge in Iowa’s oldest state parkView guide →Breweries & distilleriesBig Grove BreweryIA · Brewerya popular brewery-and-kitchen in the Iowa City corridorView guide →DiningA DongIA · VietnameseFamily-run Vietnamese staple since 1989 with an enormous menu and standout spring rolls. Order: Pho and spring rolls.View guide →Breweries & distilleriesCedar Ridge DistilleryIA · DistilleryIowa’s pioneering bourbon distillery and wineryView guide →Breweries & distilleriesConfluence BrewingIA · Brewerya Des Moines taproom near the Gray’s Lake trailsView guide →Breweries & distilleriesExile BrewingIA · Brewerya downtown Des Moines brewery-and-restaurant (Ruthie lager)View guide →GolfBrown DeerIA · publicA links-style public course near Iowa City.View guide →DiningAlbaIA · New AmericanSeasonal, ever-changing modern American plates that earned multiple James Beard nods. Order: Chef's tasting menu.View guide →Breweries & distilleriesMillstream BrewingIA · BreweryIowa’s oldest craft brewery, in the historic Amana ColoniesView guide →HikesEffigy Mounds (Fire Point)IA · Moderateancient animal-shaped mounds over the MississippiView guide →GolfFinkbineIA · publicThe University of Iowa's public course.View guide →Breweries & distilleriesToppling GoliathIA · Brewerya world-renowned brewery (Kentucky Brunch) in tiny northeast IowaView guide →HikesLedges State ParkIA · Easya sandstone canyon along Peas CreekView guide →HikesLoess Hills (Murray Hill)IA · Easyrare wind-deposited prairie hillsView guide →HikesMaquoketa CavesIA · Easya trail through caves and bluffsView guide →GolfOkoboji ViewIA · publicA lakes-region public course in the northwest.View guide →HikesPalisades-KeplerIA · Moderatelimestone cliffs over the Cedar RiverView guide →HikesPikes Peak (Iowa)IA · ModerateMississippi bluff overlooks at McGregorView guide →DiningBrazen Open KitchenIA · New AmericanTop Chef alum Kevin Scharpf's culinary gem in the Historic Millwork District focused on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and bold flavors. Order: Chef's tastiView guide →DiningBreitbach's Country DiningIA · AmericanIowa’s oldest restaurant, perched above the Mississippi bluffs, makes a natural meal-and-view stop on the middle Great River Road.View guide →HikesStone State Park (Loess)IA · Moderatewooded loess-hill ridges above Sioux CityView guide →GolfSpirit HollowIA · publicA scenic, hilly daily-fee course in the southeast.View guide →HikesYellow River State ForestIA · Moderatebluffs and trout streams in Iowa’s driftless northeastView guide →GolfThe HarvesterIA · publicA bold Keith Foster course, often the state's top public.View guide →GolfToad ValleyIA · publicA friendly daily-fee course near Des Moines.View guide →HikesWildcat DenIA · Easysandstone formations and a historic millView guide →GolfTournament Club of IowaIA · publicAn Arnold Palmer course north of Des Moines.View guide →GolfVeenkerIA · publicIowa State's rolling public course.View guide →DiningFong's PizzaIA · PizzaTiki-bar pizza joint on the site of the country's oldest Chinese restaurant, home of the original crab rangoon pizza. Order: Crab Rangoon pizza.View guide →DiningGursha Ethiopian GrillIA · EthiopianCounter-service Ethiopian near Drake serving spicy wats scooped up with house injera. Order: Doro wat with injera.View guide →DiningHarbingerIA · New AmericanJames Beard-nominated chef Joe Tripp's vegetable-forward small plates from the wood fire. Order: Seasonal small plates.View guide →DiningL.May EateryIA · New AmericanWarm upscale-casual spot on historic Main Street with creative market-driven plates and an impressive cocktail, wine, and craft beer list. Order: Wood-fired pizView guide →DiningTaylor's Maid-RiteIA · AmericanA loose-meat sandwich classic for the Iowa Lincoln Highway crossing, compact and deeply road-trip specific.View guide →DiningWaveland CafeIA · Coffee & BreakfastNo-frills 1984 neighborhood diner whose loaded hash browns even drew Jason Momoa. Order: Everything Hash Browns.View guide →
Category guides
Go deeper, interest by interest.
38 stops across 19 state-by-state guide collections.
Hikes500+ trails in every state, easy to epic545 stops →Waterfalls300+ falls, roadside to bucket-list303 stops →BeachesFamily sand, surf breaks, and wild shores299 stops →Hot springsLuxe resorts to wild backcountry soaks90 stops →Mountain bikingTrail systems, bike parks, and gravel76 stops →CyclingScenic rides, climbs, and rail-trails50 stops →Ski & snowboardBig-mountain steeps to family hills86 stops →DiningGreat meals near routes and gateway towns3,924 stops →Breweries & distilleriesTrip-worthy taprooms and still houses267 stops →GolfPublic courses you can actually book753 stops →National parksAll 63, guided by season and top sights63 stops →Hidden gemsVote favorites into the Roamward map19 stops →MLB ballparksAll 30 MLB parks as a road-trip quest30 stops →LighthousesCoast-to-coast beacons worth the drive60 stops →EventsPlan the trip around the moment31 stops →Wild landsForests, wilderness, and monuments beyond the parks74 stops →CampingEpic campgrounds by where you want to wake up63 stops →Scenic landmarksIconic overlooks, canyons, dunes, and formations57 stops →Roadside AmericanaGiant statues, folk art, oddities, and vintage neon23 stops →
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