7 Coziest Iowa Towns To Visit In 2025
If you have a day or two to spare, you will want to escape to some charming Neverland with a delicious range of interesting things to see and do. They may be places frozen in time, peaceful state parks to wander through, unique diners, cozy cafes, or stunningly beautiful main streets. As you amble through the charm-soaked streets, you will find sights that stop you mid-step and locations that look plucked straight from a scriptwriter's imagination. Fortunately, Iowa brims with such cozy locations, and you will not miss finding spots that almost look contrived. Starting with Coralville, discover the seven coziest Iowa towns to visit in 2025.
Coralville
Between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids lies a small, charming town, a suburb of Iowa City, with an eclectic lineup of interesting attractions to explore. One of these is the Mormon Handcart Park. You will visit this park, thinking it is just an ordinary outdoor space, only to realize you have stumbled on an interesting piece of history. The trails are well-shaded and well-paved, and feature plaques that tell the story of the early Mormon settlers' journey to Utah. The name of the park is ostensibly in reference to the fact that the early Mormon settlers built handcarts for a section of the trip because they could not afford oxen.
Meanwhile, North Ridge Park has a fishing pond and nicely paved trails to explore, while Clear Creek Trail is a wooded trail ideal for walking or biking. You can swing a driver at the Brown Deer Golf Club, annually voted “Best in the Corridor” by the Corridor Business Journal and Iowa City Press Citizen Best of Polls from 2007 through 2014. As for staying, the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson is conveniently located just two minutes from shopping and restaurants, and is easily accessible off the interstate.
Le Mars
If you are a tourist with a sweet tooth, Le Mars is what every doctor will recommend. Le Mars has been called “The Ice Cream Capital of the World,” and has been the home to Wells Enterprises Inc., makers of Blue Bunny brand ice cream and dairy products since the company’s founding by Fred H. Wells, Jr., more than a century ago. If you are addicted to any kind of sweetness, Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor provides the “child in a toy shop” experience. We are talking about the premier ice cream destination in town and arguably the entire world. Willow Creek Campground, in the scenic Le Mars Municipal Park, is open from May through October. It is a nice place to decompress and get intimate with nature. But if you enjoy interesting stories of old places and happenings, the Plymouth County Historical Museum keeps an excellent collection of local artifacts and spans five floors. For those spending the night, Inn On Central is neat, beautifully decorated, and steps away from almost everything.
Decorah
Tucked away in the northeast corner of Iowa, Decorah is known for its deep Norwegian roots and outdoor recreational opportunities. Northeast Iowa is part of the Driftless Area, so expect nice scenery and rolling hills that ripple into neighbouring states. You can rent a boat from one of the outfitters around the town, then float down the Upper Iowa River, one of the most picturesque canoeing and kayaking rivers in the Midwest. For boat rentals, the nearby Chimney Rock Campground offers flexible float options and doubles up as a peaceful place to stay in the woods. At Dunning's Spring Park, you will find a leaping cascade, extensive walking trails, and a tranquil atmosphere that instantly puts you in a relaxing mode. Alternatively, stroll along Water Street for interesting items to shop for, before tracing Decorah's Norwegian heritage at the unmissable Vesterheim.
Okoboji
Although a tiny town of less than 1,000, Okoboji proves that bigger is not always better. The town reclines on the peaceful shores of West Okoboji Lake in the Iowa Great Lakes Region. You will discover endless things to do in and around the town, whether you want to boat, hike, fish, or soak up the sun at the beach. You have the sparkling water wonder that gives the town its name, a 3,847-acre beauty with a small beach to relax or watch a glorious sunset. If tagging kids, the Dickinson County Nature Center is a nice little getaway with a pond, some lovely trails, and lots of interesting stuff for children to do. You can enjoy an afternoon game at Brooks Golf, and then spend a quiet night at Gull Point State Park, which has a lodge tucked back right up to the water and a beautiful campground with amenities.
Mason City
You should visit Mason City, just to stay at the Historic Park Inn, the world's only surviving Frank Lloyd Wright-designed hotel. The hotel was built before the First World War and is a tribute to the elegance of a bygone era. Interestingly, each of the rooms has a unique floor plan, although all of them are as stylish as a Wright handiwork is expected to be. You can mill around Central Park, a tranquil space to escape the hassle and bustle of town, or visit Music Man Square, which honours one of the state's most celebrated artists: Meredith Wilson. A musical genius, Wilson is famously known for writing the 1957 Broadway musical The Music Man, which was set in a fictional River City, loosely inspired by his hometown of Mason City. Add the Lime Creek Nature Center, which has live animals, a library, and nature trails, and you immediately envisage a vacation gem with lots of interesting stuff to do.
Winterset
If you have watched the Bridges of Madison County, or read the runaway bestseller on which the Meryl Streep-starring movie was based, you will want to jump behind the wheel and drive down to Winterset, the setting for the deeply emotional novel. The sweetly relaxed town offers iconic covered bridges (you know this from the movie), a winery, a Hollywood icon’s birthplace, and what could be the cutest little donut shop in America. The Bakery Unlimited is a phenomenal name in the Midwest’s culinary landscape and was ranked number 5 in USA Today’s 2024 readers’ choice list for 10 Best Donut Shops in the U.S.” Other attractions include the John Wayne Birthplace & Museum, which honours one the state's most talented actors, and Pammel State Park, a picturesque space with a ford to drive across, a nice campground, and a unique tunnel to drive through. If you don't feel like sleeping in the park, check out the Covered Bridge House, a serene farmhouse just a hair outside of town.
Pella
Pella, just about 40 miles southeast of Des Moines, is all about tulips, windmills, and lots of Dutch charm and flavors. Tulip Time, an extraordinary carnival that brims with energy and color, electrifies the town on the first Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in May. You will see tulips (lots of them), Dutch attire, Gouda samples, and several other interesting games and activities. Not just that. The most Dutch town in Iowa has cafes that serve Dutch Letter Latte, a historical village that reenacts life during the town's early years, and, wait for this, one of North America's tallest working windmills. Pella Historical Village is an 18-building complex that tells the story of the town from the 1840s. Several things will pique your interest here, including Werkplaats, the place where wooden shoes are made. Keep in mind that the Vermeer Windmill is a must-see. It is an 1850s-style "koren mill" — or grain mill — and a ringing nod to Pella's agricultural past. In keeping with the town's Dutch heritage, there is no better place to stay than at the Amsterdam Hotel on the charming Molengracht canal.
The Takeaway
Whether you want to curate a perfect Iowa vacation itinerary or want to approach the idea with the spontaneity of a dreamy wanderer, Iowa has spots that suit both relaxation and adventure. Some of these places look beautiful and cozy, complete with tree-lined streets, charming shops, and soul-soothing landscapes. You can feel like you are in Amsterdam in Pella, or admiring a Norman Rockwell painting in Decorah.
