Osage, Iowa, is a town around 3,500 people located in northeast Iowa. It may not be the place that you would typically seek out for your weekend getaway. But, I guarantee that there is plenty of things to do in Osage, Iowa, that will make your travels worth it!
A huge thank you to the Osage Chamber of Commerce for hosting our visit. All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and my own. For more details, please check out the Disclosure Policy tab!
Location
As previously mentioned, Osage is located in northeast Iowa and is situated along 2 state highways making it easily accessible. It’s also relatively close to a couple regional airports. This means you can fly in and road trip there and back, enjoying the Iowa countryside!
If you’re traveling by car…
- Des Moines, IA – 148 miles – 2 hours, 10 minutes drive time
- Minneapolis, MN – 134 miles – 2 hours, 12 minutes drive time
- Kansas City, MO – 341 miles – 4 hours, 50 minutes drive time
- Chicago, IL – 338 miles – 5 hours, 25 minutes drive time
Support Local Businesses
One of our favorite things to do when visiting other communities, is to check out their local businesses. Osage has a thriving downtown of locally owned businesses which offer antiques, flowers, clothes, groceries, and more. We strolled downtown and visited several shops.
We recommend spending a considerable amount of time at Emerson’s on Main. They carry a wide variety of styles, sizes, and for both men & women! T and I both picked up several items. To quote him, “It’s a treasure hunt in there!”. The employees were beyond helpful and kind!
Kountry Kupboard is another amazing stop! Here you’ll find a quaint coffee shop complete with delicious smelling and tasting cinnamon rolls & caramel rolls along with a wide coffee menu. They also offer a large variety of bulk food items, spices, and most importantly (to me) gluten-free foods!
The “Must Have” Guide to Coffee Shops in Iowa
Enjoy Culture & Recreation
If you enjoy culture & recreation, then you’ll love exploring and finding that there is a lot of these types of things to do in Osage!
Cedar Valley Seminary & Leeman Education Center
Osage was home to the very first higher education in Iowa and the community has had education as a point of importance and community service ever since. The Cedar Valley Seminary building was recently saved, moved, renovated, and turned into a stunning coffee shop by a group of volunteers. The Leeman Education Center was constructed out of an old newspaper office. It highlights the lives of people from Osage and Mitchell County that have given back to their community and the world. It’s a stunning building and has amazing displays that everyone needs to stop and take in!
Mapletown Manor
Note: Osage is known as the City of Maples due to all the maple trees planted by its founders!
Osage is full of beautiful, old homes, but the Mapletown Manor is a stunning one for the public to enjoy. The home was built for Dr. J.L. Whitley and his family in the late 1870’s. Now, owner Hollie, and her husband are working to not only restore the home and share it’s beauty with the public, but also hold fun events at Halloween, and more!
Cedar Summerstock Theatre
What you won’t expect to find in Osage, but will absolute enjoy is a live theatre production. Cedar Summerstock Theatre is a summer internship of sorts for aspiring theatre actors & actresses. They come to Osage for the summer and spend it rehearsing and putting on several different plays, musicals, and revues all summer long. The talent is some of the best and they are amazing shows! It’s definitely a don’t miss when you’re in town!
Kayaking with Nature RX Rentals
Osage is located on the Cedar River which is one of the major rivers that travels through Iowa. That means visitors to the area can enjoy fishing and kayaking! Thankfully, Sam & Andy, who love Osage & Mitchell County, wanted to find a way to help people enjoy all that the area has to offer. So, they formed Nature Rx Rentals! Kayak rentals and shuttle service is what they are focusing on! They were super easy to work with as they delivered our kayaks to our put-in spot and then transported us back to our vehicle when we got out! They also pointed out a few points of interest in the community that we were not aware of. We were lucky enough to see lots of wildlife during our float like fish jumping, turtles sitting on rocks, and cranes hunting fish.
BONUS STOPS: If you're in town at the right time, make sure to stop by the Mitchell County Fair! Another don't miss stop is Spring Park with it's cold water spring!
Good Eats in Osage
Where there are lots of things to do in Osage, there are also several options for delicious food!
Limestone Brewers
Tony, the owner and developer of delicious brews has created a great spot to not only grab a great beer, but also delicious pizza at Limestone Brewers! Brewing the beer is a labor of love for Tony and he and his staff have a great spot on main street Osage.
Not only do they offer 2 of our favorite beers: Lime Kiln Lager & Devils Punch Bowl, but they also offer delicious food! Build your own pizza or pick one of their specialty pizzas! (I opted for their Margherita and the unique balsamic sauce was amazing!) And yes, they even offer gluten-free crust! WOOHOO! And, if that isn’t enough, enjoy their back room with axe throwing, bags, and picnic tables to sit around!
Teluwut Grille House & Pub
Located in an old, eclectic building also on main street, Teluwut Grille House & Bar has been a staple in Osage for almost 20 years! Here, pick from sandwiches, salads, entrees, burgers, and more for lunch or dinner! During our visit, T picked a “Big Philly”, while I went with the Quesadilla burger (sans flour tortilla). Both our lunches were delicious! I loved the seasoning on my burger and the fries were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Piggy Back Smoke Shack
If you love smoked meats, you’ll love Piggy Back Smoke Shack. They offer a variety of smoked meats like sliced pork, pulled pork, sliced brisket, pulled brisket, and ribs! They also offer sandwiches and BBQ pizzas! Personally, I love the variety of sides and will pick the Sweet Potato Bacon Hash every day of the week! T tried the smoked mac & cheese and we both love a good side salad, which they offer! A huge bonus for me is the very clearly labeled gluten-free items!
BecMar Diner
Every community needs a place to find a classic breakfast and that is exactly what you’ll find at BecMar Diner! This locally owned joint is adorably decorated, impeccably clean, and gives a salute to Veterans with their wall of honor. Oh yeah, the breakfast is pretty dang good too! 😉 I chose a classic breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, their fried red potatoes, and fruit while T picked the frittata of the day with toast! All of it was delicious and the staff super helpful!
The Best Ice Cream Shops in the Midwest
BONUS STOPS: Grab a coffee and delicious cinnamon roll from Kountry Kupboard or a coffee from the Cedar Valley Seminary! Stop by Stan's Drive-In for an ice cream treat!
You won’t go hungry in Osage.
Rest & Rejuvinate at the AmericInn in Osage
We guarantee that you’ll be in need of a great place to rest and rejuvenate during your visit to Osage (you’ll be tired from all the great things to do) and so we highly recommend the AmericInn of Osage. This hotel is located on the outskirts of town, is incredibly clean, the staff is super helpful and they offer great accommodations. I will admit that I traditionally do not sleep well at hotels, but truth be told….I slept better on this trip than I had in a very long time! Our room was well appointed with a king sized bed, chair & ottoman, fridge, microwave, armoire, and plenty of room to spread out! We know you’ll be happy with your stay here!
10 Things to Do In Osage, Iowa
We love finding those out-of-the way, unique destinations that aren’t jam packed with tourists and that’s exactly what you’ll find in Osage, Iowa. But, we can also guarantee that you won’t be bored with these 10 different things to do and places to eat! Are you ready to plan your visit now?!
So many cool things to check out! I need to head up to Osage and explore!
There really is so much to see and do! Your kiddos would really like Spring Park and the Leeman Education Center too!
Just as advertised… great little town with enjoyable things to see and do! The nearby nature trails along the Cedar River are just plain beautiful too. And AUTUMN in the City of Beautiful Maples is just that.
We go there almost every year.
Johnny Walker
Santiago Chile
It’s such a great community and glad to know I’m not the only one who loves it! Thanks for stopping by!
Grew up in Osage. So glad to see so many enjoy it. Best little town.
It is a fantastic town! Thanks for stopping by!
Add, find unique local artists gifts and custom items @ Create, next door to Emerson’s
Great tip! Thanks!