7 Ideal Iowa Destinations for a 3-Day Weekend in 2025

Iowa is a quintessential Midwestern state known for its rich corn crops. However, Iowa typically isn't a popular spot for a three-day weekend, but it certainly should be, especially in some of its small towns. These quaint communities have fascinating cultural heritages, with Scandinavian and Dutch attractions in addition to beautiful natural landscapes such as icy caves, lakes, and large river bluffs. Visitors can stay busy for an entire weekend exploring these towns, and, depending on the season, you can enjoy ice skating, historical homes, and lovely accommodations. Consider these seven ideal Iowa destinations for your next 3-day weekend in 2025.

McGregor

McGregor defies Iowa's reputation as a flat and boring place with its beautiful landscapes next to the Mississippi River. It sits within the Ports of Discovery, a network of communities across Iowa that celebrate the natural wonders of the river and the art and people that live by it. McGregor has one of the best views of the Mississippi River at Pikes Peak State Park, which has 11 miles of trails through bluffs and valleys. Of particular note is Bridal Veil Falls and a 500-foot bluff that reveals the spot where the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers converge. There's plenty to do underground in McGregor as well. You can take a boat tour through Spook Cave, a flooded cave a few miles from town. For activities within McGregor, you can learn about local history at the McGregor Historical Museum or dive into a great book at one of the many book stores, such as Rivertown Fine Books or Paper Moon. For a peaceful spot to stay, consider the Trickling Waters Retreat, which is located by a garden and waterfall.

Spirit Lake

This small town of just under 5,500 people sits in a picturesque part of the state. Surrounded by three lakes known as the Iowa Great Lakes region, Spirit Lake is one of the best lake towns in the Midwest. By walking or biking on the Iowa Great Lakes Trail, explorers can see the beaches of Big Spirit Lake and West Lake Okoboji. Or for a more relaxing outdoor experience, visitors can go to Elinor Bedell State Park to camp out on the shores of East Lake Okoboji. There are also frozen water activities via the Lakes Ice Arena, open from October through March for ice skating. Downtown, one can enjoy shopping at the Spirit Lake Antique Mall or grab a bite to eat at Pizza Ranch. There are several chain hotels in town, or one can enjoy a bed and breakfast at the Victorian Oakwood Inn.

Decorah

Decorah rests within the Driftless Area of Iowa. It is called as such because no glaciers drifted through the region, and as a result, one can still find limestone bluffs and hills. Thus, Decorah has some of the most beautiful parks in Iowa, many of which are located close to downtown. For example, visitors can see a 200-foot spring-fed waterfall at Dunning Springs Park. There's a trail here that connects to other parks in Decorah, such as the Barbara Barnhart Van Peenen Memorial Park, which winds through prairies and ravines, and the Decorah Ice Cave State Preserve. Within this preserve, you can explore a large ice cave, which is frozen almost year-round, save for the hot summer months. Decorah also has several unique museums, like the Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum & Folk Art School, which celebrates its heritage of Norwegian immigration, or the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum, the childhood home of 19th-century author Laura Ingalls Wilder, who famously wrote the Little House on the Prairie series. Spend your weekend in Decorah at the Bluffside Gardens or Hotel Winneshiek.

Waverly

Waverly has an intriguing and tragic history. The first people to live there didn't come of their own volition. They were the Native American tribe called the Winnebago, who were forced onto these lands by U.S. troops in 1832. Eventually, these people were moved to South Dakota, away from Iowa, where settlers came in. Europeans came into the area in 1852, establishing the town of Waverly. Today, the city preserves both the Native and European history of the area at the Bremer County Historical Society. This museum is located within a historic 1863 structure and features exhibits on Native artifacts and an authentic log cabin home. Waverly also has pleasant walking trails throughout the city, such as the Cedar River Park and the 7-mile Rail Trail, which begins at the Cedar River downtown and goes across seven bridges. For lovers of the arts, the local Wartburg College hosts concerts with the Wartburg Community Symphony. Lastly, you can enjoy local craft beer at the Bremer Brewing Co. For a good place to stay, check in at the Cobblestone Inn & Suites.

Story City

Sitting almost directly in the center of Iowa, this town gets its cute name from the Supreme Court Justice, Joseph Story. Much like Decorah, a great number of Scandinavian immigrants settled in this area from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Story City celebrates this Scandinavian heritage during Scandinavian Days, held during the first week of June, complete with games, parades, traditional dances, and other activities. Story City is also home to an adorable 1913 hand-carved wooden carousel known as the Story City Antique Carousel, which is still in operation for just a $1 a ride. While you're in town, you can also catch a show or theatrical performance at the 1913 Story Theatre Grand Opera House. Boaters can get out on the water with the South Skunk River Water Trail, which despite the name is not stinky at all, but is a beautiful section of the river with fast moving waters for experienced paddlers or gentler areas for fishing. You can enjoy some Midwestern hospitality by staying at Loya's Little House B&B located within Grandad's Farm.

Pella

Located 40 miles to the southwest of Des Moines, Pella feels like an Old World town with its array of Dutch architecture. Windmills dot the landscape of Pella, like at Brinkhoff Park, which has a windmill and flower beds resembling the Netherlands' tulip fields. Visitors can also tour one of the largest windmills in America at the Vermeer Windmill, which also sits next to the East Amsterdam School Museum, an 1874 structure that allows visitors to experience what a school day would be like in the 1930s. Speaking of tulips, one can see them bloom during a springtime stroll down the 17-mile Volksweg Trail, which follows the Des Moines River and into the North Overlook Woods. For a fun place to stay, go to The Cheesemakers Inn, which provides Dutch breakfasts made of locally sourced ingredients.

Clear Lake

Just under 7,700 people call Clear Lake home. Named after the lake on which it sits, it initially served as a summer home for the Dakota and Winnebago peoples. By the 1850s, white settlers moved in and claimed the area for themselves. Today, the 3,600-acre lake itself is the most popular attraction, with many ways to experience it. Visitors can take a tour of the lake aboard the Lady of the Lake paddle wheel boat or go exploring in the wider area with the River City Greenbelt & Trail System, which connects Clear Lake to the nearby communities of Mason City. Within the town limits, one can visit the Clear Lake Fire Museum, the first fire museum in Iowa, or see a garden of sculptures at the Clear Lake Arts Center. Clear Lake is noteworthy for its many cute spots to stay at, including the Brickhouse Cottage or the Clear Lake Cottages.

To have a great 3-day weekend, you need both a great place to stay and a diverse list of things to do. All of these towns provide great hotels, inns, and bed and breakfasts, while offering a range of outdoor activities—fishing by the South Skunk River in Story City or walking by fields of tulips at the Volksweg Trail in Pella, to name a few. These seven towns are ideal for a long weekend destination for anyone visiting the Midwest this year!