56 days in Iowa Itinerary

Council Bluffs is a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Council Bluffs: Lake Icaria State Park (in Corning), Farmall-Land USA (in Avoca) and Elk Horn (Danish Windmill Museum & Museum of Danish America). And it doesn't end there: try your luck at Horseshoe Council Bluffs, stroll around Hitchcock Nature Center, see the interesting displays at Union Pacific Railroad Museum, and learn about winemaking at Bodega Victoriana Winery.

To see where to stay, reviews, ratings, and other tourist information, read our Council Bluffs trip itinerary planning tool.

San Francisco to Council Bluffs is an approximately 5.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. You'll lose 2 hours traveling from San Francisco to Council Bluffs due to the time zone difference. Traveling from San Francisco in April, things will get a bit cooler in Council Bluffs: highs are around 62°F and lows about 40°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 10th (Sun) so you can go by car to Sioux City.

Sioux City is a city in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Iowa. Take a break from Sioux City with a short trip to Okoboji Classic Cars in Okoboji, about 1h 50 min away. Next up on the itinerary: take in the spiritual surroundings of Trinity Heights, see the interesting displays at Palmer's Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe, get your bearings at Sergeant Floyd River Museum and Welcome Center, and have fun and explore at LaunchPAD Children’s Museum.

To see maps, more things to do, photos, and other tourist information, use the Sioux City tour itinerary planning website.

Getting from Council Bluffs to Sioux City by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: drive. In April in Sioux City, expect temperatures between 60°F during the day and 36°F at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 17th (Sun) early enough to go by car to Mason City.

Mason City is a city in and the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. Change things up with these side-trips from Mason City: Grotto of the Redemption (in West Bend), Diamond Jo Casino (in Northwood) and LIttle Brown Church in the Vale (in Nashua). There's still lots to do: admire the striking features of Historic Park Inn Hotel, walk around East Park, admire the natural beauty at Central Gardens of North Iowa, and contemplate the long history of Rock Crest - Rock Glen Historical District.

For other places to visit, more things to do, photos, and other tourist information, go to the Mason City journey maker tool.

Drive from Sioux City to Mason City in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. Traveling from Sioux City in April, expect nights in Mason City to be about the same, around 33°F, while days are little chillier, around 55°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 22nd (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Decorah.

Decorah is a city in and the county seat of Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. Change things up with these side-trips from Decorah: Pikes Peak State Park (in McGregor), Effigy Mounds National Monument (in Harpers Ferry) and Driftless Area Wetlands Centre (in Marquette). And it doesn't end there: admire the sheer force of Dunnings Spring Park, sample the tasty concoctions at Pulpit Rock Brewing Company, stroll around Mount Hosmer Park, and take in the architecture and atmosphere at Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church.

To see other places to visit, maps, ratings, and other tourist information, go to the Decorah route maker website.

You can drive from Mason City to Decorah in 2 hours. Another option is to drive. In April, daytime highs in Decorah are 53°F, while nighttime lows are 36°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 28th (Thu) so you can drive to Dubuque.

Dubuque is the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. Get out of town with these interesting Dubuque side-trips: Park Farm Winery (in Durango), Manchester Whitewater Park (in Manchester) and Dyer-Botsford Doll Museum (in Dyersville). There's still lots to do: get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, stroll around Eagle Point Park, look for all kinds of wild species at Mines of Spain, and don't miss a visit to Fenelon Place Elevator Co..

For reviews, maps, ratings, and tourist information, use the Dubuque trip planner.

Traveling by car from Decorah to Dubuque takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. In April, daily temperatures in Dubuque can reach 56°F, while at night they dip to 36°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 5th (Thu) to allow time to drive to Davenport.

Davenport is the county seat of Scott County in Iowa and is the largest of the Quad Cities, a metropolitan area with a population estimate of 382,630 and a CSA population of 474,226, making it the 90th largest CSA in the nation. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Davenport: Muscatine Art Center (in Muscatine) and Eagle Point Park (in Clinton). And it doesn't end there: take an in-depth tour of Iowa 80 Trucking Museum, browse for treasures at Antique Archeology, try to win big at Rhythm City Casino Resort, and learn about winemaking at Wide River Winery Tasting Room.

To find where to stay, reviews, other places to visit, and more tourist information, use the Davenport trip itinerary builder site.

Traveling by car from Dubuque to Davenport takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In May, daily temperatures in Davenport can reach 73°F, while at night they dip to 51°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 11th (Wed) early enough to go by car to Burlington.

Burlington is a city and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. Get out of town with these interesting Burlington side-trips: Keosauqua (Bentonsport National Historic District & Lacey Keosauqua State Park), Swedish American Museum and Historical Society (in Swedesburg) and American Gothic House (in Eldon). There's still lots to do: get to know the fascinating history of Snake Alley, walk around Dankwardt Park, explore the different monuments and memorials at Keokuk National Cemetery, and play a few rounds at Spirit Hollow Golf Course.

To see reviews, maps, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read Burlington tour itinerary tool.

Getting from Davenport to Burlington by car takes about 1.5 hours. In May, daily temperatures in Burlington can reach 73°F, while at night they dip to 53°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 15th (Sun) so you can go by car to Cedar Rapids.

Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. Get out of town with these interesting Cedar Rapids side-trips: West Branch (Herbert Hoover National Historic Site & Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum), Iowa City (Old Capitol Museum, University of Iowa, &more) and National Motorcycle Museum (in Anamosa). The adventure continues: see the interesting displays at National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, take a stroll through Cedar Falls Main Street, steep yourself in history at Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark, and make a trip to Brucemore.

To see ratings, reviews, and other tourist information, read our Cedar Rapids day trip planner.

Traveling by car from Burlington to Cedar Rapids takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. May in Cedar Rapids sees daily highs of 71°F and lows of 50°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 23rd (Mon) early enough to drive to Des Moines.

Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. Explore Des Moines' surroundings by going to Historical Village, Vermeer Windmill & Scholte House (in Pella), Reiman Gardens (in Ames) and Winterset (John Wayne Birthplace & Museum & Roseman Covered Bridge). There's still lots to do: ponder the world of politics at Capitol Building, stroll around Gray's Lake Park, admire the masterpieces at Des Moines Art Center, and admire all the interesting features of High Trestle Trail Bridge.

Before you visit Des Moines, use our trip planner to discover what you can do and see there.

Traveling by car from Cedar Rapids to Des Moines takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. In May, daily temperatures in Des Moines can reach 73°F, while at night they dip to 53°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 30th (Mon) early enough to catch the flight back home.