13 Nicest Small Towns In Iowa
You really ought to give Iowa a try, so say the lyrics of 'Iowa Stubborn' written by favorite son Meredith Willson. This state in the upper Midwest stretches from the Mississippi to the Missouri River. In between, you’ll find fields of opportunities in agriculture, music, history, architectural treasures, and the entrepreneurial spirit. After spending time in any of these small towns, you'll see it’s more than just a fly-over state; it’s the heartland.
Orange City
Rich in Dutch heritage and ancestry, Orange City is named for 17th Century Prince William of Orange from The Netherlands. Today, you can tip toe through the tulips during Tulip Days, celebrated the third weekend in May. ArtBurst is a juried art show during the festival that features artists from across the Midwest. Other highlights include a tractor show, a carnival, live music, drumline, and theater performances.
At the Dutch American Heritage Museum, explore the migration of the Dutch to the New World. Traditional clothing and housing are on display. There’s also plenty of Dutch food and pastry to be found in bakeries and grocery stores all year round. Try poffertjes, tiny pancakes served with powdered sugar. They’re ‘lekker.’
The downtown strives to present buildings in harmony with traditional Dutch architecture and design. A walk in the delightful area around Windmill Park evokes Old-World ambiance with modern amenities. Spend an afternoon searching for souvenirs, gifts, crafts, and chocolate.
Forest City
There's much to enjoy in Forest City, Iowa, starting with Pilot Knob State Park. In addition to camping, picnic areas, bridle trails, hiking paths, and winter activities, you can’t miss the view from the Observation Tower. Built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, this outlook will remind you of Rapunzel’s tower. It’s an excellent spot for fairytale photo ops. Heritage Park, an outdoor museum showcasing the area’s rural history, will have you nostalgic for bygone eras. Visit the old-fashioned jail, barn, log cabin, and rural schoolhouse.
Winnebago Industries is the largest motor home manufacturing facility in the world, and it got its start in Forest City. Regular factory tours are offered from April through October. You can also head to The Mansion Museum, run by the Winnebago Historical Society, where they have examples of neoclassical architecture, as well as a diverse range of exhibits. Aeronautics enthusiasts will find a collection dedicated to aviation pioneer Sylvan Hugelen. Costumes and belongings of dancer Ida Pickney Fuller are displayed alongside the personal collection of the longest-serving governor, favorite son Terry Brandstad.
Indianola
Indianola is a feast for the eyes, especially during the National Balloon Classic, where over 100 hot air balloons sail high above the prairie each summer. This is your chance to fly up, up, and away, or at least witness the breathtaking sight. For a very different kind of festival, the Des Moines Metro Opera takes up residence in the Pote Theatre at the Blank Performing Arts Centre with a run of performances each summer.
The Warren County Historical Society maintains a historical and genealogical library. In addition to historical household artifacts, the museum displays an extensive collection of Winchester tools and McCoy pottery. George Washington Carver was a student at Simpson College in Indianola, and the museum houses an exhibit dedicated to his life’s work.
Dating back to its mid-1880s beginnings as a trading post, downtown Indianola is a kaleidoscope of festivals and events. Something is always happening, so check the local calendar for summer concerts and a variety of activities throughout the year.
Algona
Steeped in WWII history, Algona was the site of a prisoner-of-war camp from 1944 to 1946. The Algona Nativity was built by German POWs and includes 65 one-half life-size figures. After the war, they donated it to the town of Algona. The Nativity is open throughout December; however, off-season tours can be arranged upon request.
The Kossuth County Agriculture & Motorsports Museum showcases the region's agriculture and racing history. The Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame recognizes drivers with a record of success or contribution to racing in Kossuth County. If golf carts are more your speed, you can head to River Road Golf Club. This pleasant 9-hole course is open to the public. For the kids, the Algona Aquatic Center boasts diving boards, two water slides, shady areas both in and out of the water, and a zero-depth play zone.
Britt
There’s a paradoxical romance to the history of the hobo. In Britt, the hobo is respected, celebrated, and appreciated at their Hobo Days and National Convention, held the second week of August. The National Hobo Museum, the Hobo Memorial Cemetery, and the Hobo Jungle are one-of-a-kind experiences found only in Britt.
On Labor Day weekend, the gates open early for the Britt Draft Horse Show. Visitors can watch the crews prepare the largest horses in the world for competition. Afternoon shows and competitions take place on Saturday and Sunday. If you prefer a bit more horsepower, the Hancock County Speedway is a .4-mile dirt, semi-banked oval track located southeast of Algona. This weekend spectator sport is affordable family fun.
Riverside
Beam yourself to Riverside, Iowa, the future birthplace of Star Trek's Captain James T. Kirk, but don’t wait until March 22, 2228, to visit. Each summer, the city celebrates Trek Fest, held the last weekend of June. It's a celebration of all things Star Trek, featuring costume contests, a fireworks show, a large parade, and more. For something a bit more down-to-earth, The Voyage Home History Center showcases Riverside’s past, present, and future with a blend of historical city displays and Star Trek memorabilia.
Speaking of the past, Ockershausen Outpost is a Western-style trading post specializing in minerals, gems, geodes, art, and jewelry. The jewelry is hand-crafted by locals. Riverside Casino & Golf Resort offers another kind of thrill. Here you’ll find a spa, fine and casual dining, 24-hour Vegas-style gaming, live entertainment, and everything you expect from a top-rate casino.
Clear Lake
Fans of rock’ n' roll know the day the music died. On February 3, 1959, right after their last concert at the Surf Ballroom, Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Richie Valens died in a plane crash taking off from Clear Lake, Iowa. You can visit the memorial on the exact spot where the plane went down, commemorated by a gigantic pair of Buddy Holly glasses.
A visit to the ballroom is a special treat for all music fans. Still an active concert venue today, this gorgeous space is just as it was on that fateful day. You can see the telephone where Buddy made his last phone call to his wife, and the green room where every musician who has played the ballroom in the previous few decades has signed the walls.
Beautiful City Park, located on the lakefront downtown, is surrounded by shops and restaurants. A bandshell, playground, and picnic tables dot the green space, which hosts many special events each season. From there, you can take a ride on The Lady of the Lake, one of the few true paddle wheel boats left in operation.
Keosauqua
One of Iowa’s earliest communities, the river city of Keosauqua, has a captivating history tied to human rights. The Pearson House is one of the most important houses in Keosauqua, and gives you the chance to visit one of the few remaining stops on the Underground Railroad.
Keosauqua’s Federal style Van Buren County Courthouse, the second oldest continuously operating courthouse in the country, was the scene for the murder trial of William McCauley. A guilty verdict led to his subsequent demise at, appropriately, Hangman's Hollow. It was the first legal hanging in Iowa’s history.
West Bend
The Grotto of the Redemption, the largest artificial grotto on Earth, is sometimes referred to as "the Eighth Wonder of the World.” Located in the small town of West Bend and covering an entire city block, each of the nine grottos displays a scene in the life of Christ. You’ll aso find camping for both tents and trailers at The Grotto Campground.
For a more secular perspective, enjoy a day at The West Bend Historical Society. View the first schoolhouse in Palo Alto County and the town's first post office. Explore the barn museum with farm equipment, artifacts, and many hands-on experiences for children. See firsthand the inside of a prairie sod house replica.
If sports and leisure are on the agenda, West Bend Golf and Country Club is a 9-hole course that is both welcoming to novices and somewhat challenging to the experienced golfer. Open to the public, this country course has a clubhouse and restaurant.
Bellevue
Bellevue is the place for beautiful views of the Mississippi River, especially from the bluffs of Bellevue State Park. The park is teeming with archaeological, historical, and natural beauty. The South Bluff Nature Center is open by appointment and a butterfly garden attracts nearly 60 species annually and details the variety of wildlife and plant life that inhabit the area.
Located along the Mississippi River is Riverview Park, part of the trail system that connects Bellevue’s parks to Dubuque’s Mines of Spain State Recreation Area. If a spooky experience is what you’re looking for, Mont Rest Inn, which once held the title of "the Haunted Castle of Bellevue," is one of the most historic buildings in Jackson County.
Fairfield
Home to Maharishi International University, Fairfield has been described as an international center for the practice of Transcendental Meditation. Tours of the interior of the Maharishi Golden Domes are limited and available only by special arrangement with the University, but there is much to see and do in this unique town either way.
Fairfield’s Carnegie Museum, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of Iowa’s five oldest museums and was the first Carnegie library west of the Mississippi River. Endowed by Andrew Carnegie, it showcases exhibits that range from Native American artifacts to World War II memorabilia. The historic Maasdam Barns were crucial in developing Jefferson County into an important horse market. At the barns, you can explore the history of the Maasdam draft horse breeding business.
Fairfield has a distinct vibe compared to other small towns in Iowa. It celebrates the exploration and innovation, from early settlers to the international movement that made its home here.
Elk Horn
Velkommen to the Danish village of Elk Horn.
The authentic Danish Windmill built in Denmark in 1848 was dismantled, shipped across the Atlantic, and rebuilt by community volunteers in Elk Horn in 1976. Today, you can tour the working windmill, see its sails turn in the wind and the stones grind grain into flour, then enjoy some authentic pastry from the gift shop.
The Museum of Danish America shares the history of Danish immigration to the United States. The Genealogy and Education Center is open for research, so you can learn about the myths of the Viking and Norse gods and heroes, or maybe trace your ancestry back to Rollo. Kids will enjoy a LEGO play area, a 35-acre park with paved trails, picnic areas, and a homesteaders’ cabin.
Legend has it that the Bedstemor’s House is a symbol of unrequited love. Built as an engagement present for a young woman who turned down the young man, you can now tour this historic home, which is completely furnished in the style of the period between 1910 and 1920. It’s open between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
McGregor
What do jugglers, tightrope walkers, and lion tamers have to do with McGregor, Iowa? It’s where the Ringling brothers grew up. Visit the exact spot where the young Ringling’s performed their first circus. Stop by for your photo op, then head to the McGregor Historical Museum to learn more about the family’s time in McGregor.
Kids of all ages will enjoy a guided boat tour through Spook Cave. Tour guides talk about the discovery and development of the cave. There is no walking involved, though low areas in parts of the cave require extensive bending. The tour is underground and out of the weather, where the temperature is always 47°F. Back above ground at Froelich Historic Site, you can explore a 1890s village where John Froelich invented the first gasoline-powered tractor in 1892, laying the groundwork for the John Deere Tractor Company. Family-friendly guided tours are available.
In the Hawkeye State, as you explore life on the prairie, you’ll find communities filled with surprising history and built with determination and hard work. From windmills to hot air balloons and Star Trek to the Ringling Brothers, these thirteen small towns prove that in Iowa, you really can find your field of dreams.
