Looking for places to explore in the Midwest?! We recommend checking out these 14 places to visit in Northeast Iowa! From day trips to weekends, quick stops to long road trips, there is a lot to see and do! We’ve got great places to eat, overnight stays to book, and more! Which one will you plan first?!
Note: For the purposes of this post, Northeast Iowa is defined as North of Highway 20 and East of I-35.
DYERSVILLE – Field of Dreams & More
Kicking off our places to visit in Northeast Iowa is familiar to a lot of people! Baseball & Iowa go hand in hand thanks to the movie “Field of Dreams” made in the 1980’s! And lucky for you, Dyersville offers the movie site and so much more! Make sure to also tour the Basilica of St Francis Xavier and enjoy the amazing architecture and the stories of it’s history!
Visit Dyersville for a day trip or make it a weekend! 5 Reasons to Visit Dyersville, Iowa
Spend the Weekend in CHARLES CITY
Charles City is the perfect place to spend a weekend exploring the great outdoors with kayaking, golf, mini golf, biking, and more! If the outdoors isn’t really your thing, hit a museum, go shopping in the thriving downtown, and take in some art! This community on the Cedar River offers great places to stay, but our favorites are Red Cedar Lodge & Sherman House Bed & Breakfast! Options for great eats are endless too! Don’t leave town without a visit to Saint Charles Brewing Company too!
Restaurants, Shopping & Culture in Charles City, Iowa Get Outdoors in Charles City, Iowa
Road trip to see the FREEDOM ROCKS
There are several Freedom Rocks in the Northeast region of Iowa and if you’ve never seen one, it’s time to change that! Ray “Bubba” Sorenson is working to paint one rock in each of the 99 counties in Iowa as a tribute to the military Veterans of our state! You’ll find Freedom Rocks in Butler County (Greene), Hardin County (Ackley), Floyd County (Rockford), Franklin County (Coulter), Mitchell County (St. Ansgar), and Worth County (Northwood)! There are many others, but we know you’ll like these!
North Central Iowa Freedom Rock Tour
Be a farmer at NEW DAY DAIRY in CLARKSVILLE
The next place on our list of places to visit in Northeast Iowa is a little different than you might expect! However, we think you’ll not only love your stay at the New Day Dairy Guest Barn, but also by taking the “Be A Dairy Farmer” challenge! Put on your boots and get up close to the cows and learn about what it takes to take care of them! Then, enjoy watching them from the loft in the Guest Barn! You’ll enjoy this relaxing, interactive, and cozy stay! Plus, the Bolin’s are the best hosts!
Sleep with the Cows at New Day Dairy Guest Barn!
Have a musical afternoon in MASON CITY
Mason City, Iowa, is also known as the River City. And if you’re a Broadway musical fan, you know that “there’s trouble, right here in River City!” That line from “The Music Man” written by Meredith Wilson has made Mason City famous. Wilson was born and raised in Mason City and a tour of his boyhood home and Music Man Square is a great way to spend an afternoon. You can also take in the McNeider Museum with the famous marionettes from Sound Of Music! While you’re in town, stopping by Birdsell’s Ice Cream is a MUST! I personally always go for the Banana Fudge!
Looking for a weekend getaway?! Book a stay at the Historic Park Inn and enjoy one of the many local eateries and coffee shops!
Spend an Afternoon Being a Tourist in Mason City
Enjoy delicious eats in IOWA FALLS
Iowa Falls (just north of Highway 20), located along the Iowa River, has a booming downtown with lots of great locally owned shops to explore and great places to eat like the Princess Grill & Pizzeria or Plaza Veracruz. They are also home to Timbukbru, a local craft brewery, and the historic swinging bridge, which is a must see when in town!
The Princess Grill & Pizzeria: Good Food & Rich History Plaza Veracruz: Delicious Mexican Food
Milk a cow at HANSEN’S DAIRY – HUDSON
Bottle feeding a calf, milking a cow by hand, making butter, and taste testing ice cream?! Sounds like a pretty great afternoon, doesn’t it?! That’s why a tour at Hansen’s Dairy needs to be on your list of places to visit in Northeast Iowa! This family owned dairy in Hudson offers a great tour complete with everything mentioned previously and kangaroos! Take the old and young and have a great time!
The 4 Best Things About Visiting Hansen’s Dairy
Explore FRANKLIN COUNTY
Looking for a destination to socially distance and spend time slowing down with the family?! Head to Franklin County (County seat is Hampton). There are numerous places to camp like Beeds Lake State Park, Mallory Park, Galvin’s Park in Sheffield, and more. Need other accomodations? Check out the AmericInn (indoor pool) or rent a room or the entire house at Country Heritage Bed & Breakfast! Or spend the night in a grain bin when you rent the Sukup SafeT Home at Galvin’s Park in Sheffield.
Enjoy the Rolling Prairie Bike Trail, shop in numerous locally owned shops throughout the county, fish, hike, take a tour of the Franklin County Historical Museum (and other historical stops), and enjoy great places to eat! Franklin County is home to coffee shops, a microbrewery, award winning tenderloins, and more!
Enjoy the views in DUBUQUE
The spots to catch a great view in Dubuque are endless! Head to Eagle Point Park with the family and enjoy the views of Lock & Dam 11 and the entire Mississippi River while enjoying all the amenities in this expansive park! Make sure to take a ride on the Fenelon Place Elevator. This unique stop is the shortest, steepest elevator in the US and the views of Dubuque from the top are priceless. Head to the Port of Dubuque River Walk and enjoy the views of the river, the street art, and much more! Finally, make sure to visit the Maines of Spine and The Julien Dubuque Tower! It’s great history along with great views of the river. Want to make it an overnight or weekend trip?! The views from the historic Hotel Julien Dubuque are pretty great and the accommodations even better!
4 “Must Do” Things in Dubuque, Iowa
Spend the day in OSAGE
Osage, Iowa, make seem like an unsuspecting day trip, but between their main street district full of cute, locally owned shops and their locally owned Greenhouse & Nursery, there’s plenty to enjoy! Spend some time in the afternoon at Limestone Brewing Company and grab lunch and supper from one of their great places to eat like Teluwut Grill, Taste by Uncs, or Piggyback Smoke Shack!
Enjoy the summer with the WATERHAWKS & LOST ISLAND KOA
Head to Waterloo, Iowa and the Lost Island KOA for a relaxing weekend! Whether you’re the camping kind or not, you’ll enjoy Lost Island KOA. If you don’t camp, they have well appointed cabins for rent that are definitely a form of glamping! They offer lots of on-grounds entertainment including water trikes, a dog park, disc golf course, and more! Looking for something unique to do?! Head to Evansdale and catch a free show by the Waterhawks water ski team! It’s a great family fun event that everyone will love! If you need something a little more exhilarating, check out Lost Island Waterpark and amusements like mini-golf, climbing wall, and go-karts!
Be a local in ACKLEY
Don’t be fooled by this small town, population 1589. They offer a couple great locally owned shops, a delicious locker & deli, green house, campground, and a delicious coffee shop! It’s a great place to spend a day or a weekend! Make sure to check out these spots: Kings Furniture, Yarrow Avenue Collection, Family Traditions Meat Co, and Beans on Butler.
Where the Locals Go in Ackley, Iowa
Explore history at CEDAR FALLS
Downtown Cedar Falls is a thriving historic district with lots to offer! A stay at the Black Hawk Hotel, which dates back to the Civil War is a must. From this boutique hotel, you can walk to a variety of restaurants. Our recommendations?! Hit Urban Pie for fresh tasting fired pizza including Gluten Free & Keto crust options! Love Asian flavors? Try the Korean BBQ pizza! Ready for a baked good and cup of joe?! Head across the street from the hotel to Cup of Joe and grab a chair or coffee and a fresh baked good including wheat free treats like the Banana Chocolate Chip Bread!
Enjoy a fiesta in NORTHWOOD
Two things we love, ice cream and Mexican food. Those are two things that we’ll drive a good distance for and Tequila’s in Northwood is one of those restaurants! Thankfully for me, Tequila’s combines both of my favorites! The chicken nachos and enchiladas are hot and festive! End your meal with an order of Sopapillas which come with delicious cinnamon ice cream! Not ready to end your night?! Head down the block to Worth Brewing Company for a nightcap!
Enjoy a Visit to Tequila’s in Northwood
Spend A Day in Decorah
Part of the driftless area of Iowa, Decorah is nestled amongst several bluffs of Northeast Iowa. Spending time outside is easy with great spots like Dunning Springs, Phelps Park, Trout Run Bike Trail, or the Decorah Fish Hatchery. Head downtown Decorah to enjoy several small businesses, coffee shops, and restaurants. We highly recommend visiting Toppling Goliath Brewery before leaving town too!
Spend the Night in Waverly
The Red Fox Inn in Waverly has been a staple of the community since the 1970’s, but was tired and recently underwent an entire overhaul and is now a gorgeous hotel featuring an indoor pool, coffee shop, restaurant, and bar all on site, so there’s no need to leave! But, if you do want to wonder off property, head downtown to the Bremer Brewing Company, their local bakery & coffee shop, and more!
Book a Stay at the Red Fox Inn
Places to Visit in Northeast Iowa
Iowa is full of so many great places to visit and the northeast region is jam packed with them. Head to this part of the state for a day trip, weekend, or even make a week long vacation visiting several of them! Outdoors, camping, historic hotels, and more….Northeast Iowa has it all! Plan your trip now! Which one will you visit first?
