9 Overlooked Towns In Iowa Worth Visiting
If you’re looking for your next unexpected adventure, you’ll likely find it in these Iowa towns that often fly under the radar. Iowa is so much more than cornfields and prairies. Whether you want to hunt for antiques in Le Claire or wander the tulips and windmills in Pella, the Hawkeye State is sure to surprise you. From fields of sunflowers to lakeside retreats, when you’re ready to check out the often overlooked side of Iowa, adventure awaits in these small towns!
Decorah
In northern Iowa, far from noisy highways or interstates, is Decorah, found within the rugged terrain of the Driftless Area. Decorah has a rich Scandinavian heritage due to a large number of Norwegian immigrants settling in the area in the 1850s. The Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum is the largest museum in the country dedicated to Norwegian-American heritage. Near the museum is the Decorah Farmers Market, which operates May through October and offers fresh produce, gifts, and plants from local vendors.
The Driftless Area is so named because the landscape around Decorah remains untouched by the glaciation that scoured much of the Midwest, which makes for amazing hiking opportunities. Dunnings Spring Park is a local favorite, found right in central Decorah, with lovely hiking trails and even a relaxing waterfall. One of the most unique ways to explore the region can be found at Ice Cave State Preserve, where layers of ice accumulate in January and remain well into summer.
Winterset
If you’ve ever seen the movie The Bridges of Madison County, you’re familiar with the natural beauty of Winterset. Much of the movie was filmed on location here, thanks to its picturesque small-town charm with attractions like the Iowa Quilt Museum, a wholesome slice of Americana. It’s a quiet place where you can grab a meal at the Petite Cafe, then explore the John Wayne Birthplace and Museum. Guided tours are available for the home, while tours of the museum are self-guided.
If you want to create your own romance movie, there’s no better backdrop than Winterset City Park. The 76-acre oasis features a live hedge maze, whimsical statues, a stone bridge, and even a castle, the Clark Tower. Trails offer sweeping views of the Middle River Valley and include so many historical sites that the park was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021, a year before it celebrated its 150th birthday.
Elk Horn
Sandwiched between Des Moines and Omaha is Elk Horn, the largest rural Danish settlement in the United States. Roaming the streets of Elk Horn feels like stepping inside a Scandinavian postcard, from the Danish-inspired architecture to the Danish Windmill in the center of town, an authentic 19th-century structure that was shipped to Elk Horn piece by piece from Nørre Snede, Denmark, and reconstructed in the town square. It’s a real operating windmill that you can tour, as well as explore the beautiful grounds.
To learn more about Elk Horn’s Danish roots, the Museum of Danish America is solely dedicated to displaying the history, art, and culture of Denmark in the United States. For a true taste of Denmark, visiting Kringle Man Pastries is a rite of passage when visiting Elk Horn. They are famous for the signature kringle, a light and delicate Danish delight. After sampling Elk Horn’s signature sweet treat, you can head to Bedstemor's House, which offers visitors a glimpse back in time to the life of early immigrants.
Le Claire
If you love antique shopping, Le Claire is a must for every modern treasure hunter. It’s where you’ll find the antique store Antique Archaeology, made famous by the TV show American Pickers. The store sits near the scenic banks of the Mississippi River and sells antiques collected from around the United States. Even if you have no intentions of buying anything, a visit to the store feels like touring a museum dedicated to American history, with its vintage cars, neon lights, and rare items.
History buffs can walk from Antique Archaeology to the Buffalo Bill Museum along Front Street. Le Claire is the birthplace of the Wild West showman, and the museum houses rare artifacts, photos, and memorabilia that commemorate his life and legacy. The museum is also where you can climb aboard the Lone Star, a preserved 19th-century steamboat that traveled the Mississippi River. You can tour the Lone Star, but it doesn’t take passengers on rides anymore. If you want to cruise down the Mississippi, you’ll need to head to Riverboat Twilight, conveniently found next to the museum. The triple-decked riverboat offers day rides, as well as lovely overnight cruises with dining options.
Grinnell
East of Des Moines is the small community of Grinnell, affectionately known as the Jewel of the Prairie. The architecture of Grinnell is a throwback to vintage America, where even the banks are photo-worthy. The Merchants' National Bank is one of eight banks in the Midwest designed by Frank Lloyd Wright’s mentor, Louis Sullivan, and nicknamed the jewel-box banks for their intricate and ornate design. The former bank, which is now home to the Grinnell Visitor Center, lies across the street from Grinnell's quaint Central Park, equipped with a splash pad and a stage that hosts annual events like the summertime Shakespeare in the Park.
Life in the prairies may be flat, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t amazing natural spaces to discover. Just west of Grinnell is Rock Creek State Park, an oasis in the heart of the prairies. It offers miles of hiking trails that weave along the banks of Rock Creek and traverse open fields blooming with wildflowers in the spring and summer. You can also launch a boat or canoe at the Rock Creek Marina to spend a relaxing day on the water.
Pella
Southeast of Des Moines is Pella, a slice of the Netherlands in the heart of the Midwest. It was founded by a group of Dutch immigrants in the mid-1800s, and much of its Dutch-inspired heritage can be felt in every corner of the community today. It oozes European charm from the beautiful Vermeer Windmill, which is the tallest working grain windmill in the country, down to its dining options, like Jaarsma Bakery. If you stop by, you have to try their signature dish, Dutch Letters. It’s a puff pastry filled with almond paste and shaped like the letter S, and it goes great with a hot cup of coffee!
There are so many sights to see in Pella that it’s hard to pare it down to just a few. The Scholte House Museum and Gardens is a beautiful home-turned-museum that captures the spirit of the town. Visitors can tour the home, which serves as a time capsule from the 19th century, or walk the beautiful gardens outside. Without a doubt, the best and most popular time to visit Pella is in the spring, when the whole town comes alive during the Tulip Time Festival. Over 300,000 tulips bloom throughout the town, and the community celebrates the event with costumes, parades, and Dutch-inspired treats.
Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon is a Midwestern gem that seamlessly weaves natural beauty, friendly small-town vibes, and art into one complete package. Life is never rushed, and there’s an artsy undercurrent that makes it truly a unique Midwestern retreat worth visiting. This is where you can roam fields of blooming sunflowers at Bass Family Farms, and stop into its market for fresh produce and homemade treats, like ice cream in a wide range of flavors. Before you arrive at the farm via the Lincoln Highway, you’ll pass the American Gothic Barn, which demands you pull over and snap a photo!
To enjoy the natural beauty of Mount Vernon, Palisades-Kepler State Park spans 840 acres overlooking the Cedar River, with hiking trails, boat docks, and family cabins. The park is great during the day, but even better at night when the rural skies get incredibly dark, making it a great place for stargazing. For an even better view, the Eastern Iowa Observatory and Learning Center frequently hosts events featuring guest speakers and celestial viewings.
Spirit Lake
Spirit Lake is an idyllic lakeside retreat along the banks of East Okoboji Lake in the Iowa Great Lakes region. The heart of Spirit Lake can be found at Memorial Park, a lovely public green space with playgrounds, splash pads, and calming views of the water. From here, visitors can walk to cozy American diners, like Burger and Company.
Dickinson County Nature Center is an educational center on the outskirts of town where visitors can learn more about the local flora and fauna via hands-on exhibits. The center is within Kenue Park, offering 70 acres of oak savanna, wetlands, meadows, and an observation tower. For local arts and culture, the Okoboji Summer Theatre hosts seasonal live performances from June through August.
Bonaparte
The small community of Bonaparte is one of those places you’d never stumble upon by accident. Isolated along Iowa’s southern edge close to the Missouri border, it’s a hidden community where time seems to move slowly. Settled along the shore of the Des Moines River, the Bonaparte Historic Riverfront District feels like a step back in time, where rustic buildings sit along the water's edge. It’s where you’ll find daring little antique shops, like Waterfront Place Antiques, or old-timey grocery stores like Township Grocery.
Bonaparte City Park is a great place to unwind. The park offers views not only of the Des Moines River, but also of the Bonaparte Bridge. It has open grassy areas and picnic tables, and small paths to walk along the river. Bonaparte may not be big for flashy, but that’s part of its charm. It’s a small escape from the noise and traffic of some of the bigger cities, and remains untouched by the passage of time.
Explore Iowa Towns That Fly Under the Radar
Iowa’s hidden towns teach travelers that sometimes the best adventures await when you hop off the highway and explore the backroads of the state. From the fragrant tulips in Pella to the breathtaking windmills of Elk Horn, these sweet spots are largely underappreciated. It's where you can slow down in the historic riverside community of Bonaparte, or roam fields of sunflowers in Mount Vernon. So, the next time the open road calls, answer with one of these delightful escapes in Iowa.
