The Midwest is full of lots of great day trips & weekend getaways. Iowa alone has a plethora of them! Southeast Iowa is no exception to this rule! Whether you’re looking for a day trip or a weekend getaway, we have something for you! Wineries, breweries, museums, good food, and more! Check them out!
*Note – For the purposes of this post, Southeast Iowa is considered anything South of Highway 20 and East of I-35!
Cedar Rapids
Whether you’re looking to hit the city of 5 Seasons for a day or a weekend, Cedar Rapids offers plenty to do indoors and out, which makes it first on our list of great day trips & weekend getaways in Southeast Iowa!
- Don’t Miss Attractions
- National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library – This amazingly done museum is fantastic for people of all ages! Interactive displays makes it perfect for families as well as adults.
- Cedar Rapids Museum of Art – This is a must stop to check out the extensive Grant Wood collection, who is famous for American Gothic, but created much more!
- Speedeez Indoor Go-Karting – Adults and kids can come together for a good time at this indoor go-karting joint!
- Indian Creek Nature Center – When the weather is nice, head to Indian Creek Nature Center to hike, enjoy one of the many programs, and much more!
- Make it A Weekend Getaway
- A stay in downtown Cedar Rapids at the Doubletree Inn by Hilton is a great way to turn your visit into a weekend getaway! Walk to many attractions and delicious restaurants from this great location with high end accommodations
- Good Eats
- Brewhemia – hot coffee & breakfast tacos…need I say more?!
- The Map Room – a quaint spot with one of the Top 10 Burgers in the state!
- The Quarter Barrel – salads, appetizers, & homemade pizza along with vintage video games!
- Black Sheep Social Club – modernized historic surroundings combined with delicious entrees & hand crafted cocktails!
Grinnell
If art and local businesses are what you love then add Grinnell to your list of weekend getaways in Southeast Iowa that you need to make!
- Don’t Miss Attractions
- Downtown History Walking Tour or Community Art Walking Tour- learn about the downtown area of Grinnell, the history of the area on foot, and public art!
- Visit Parks – enjoy one of their many city parks, go fishing, enjoy the Grinnell Area Recreation Trail for a bike ride or walk/run.
- Go Golfing at their 18 hole public golf course or swimming at the Grinnell Mutual Aquatic Center
- Shop Downtown – Grinnell is full of many locally owned shops in the downtown district to visit!
- Make It A Weekend Getaway
- Hotel Grinnell – while Grinnell has several options for lodging, we think a stay at Hotel Grinnell is a must. This hotel is housed in a remodeled school and pays homage to its roots in many unique ways.
- Good Eats
- Jays Deli – well known for its fresh made sandwiches and more!
- Pagliai’s Pizza – homemade style Italian deliciousness
- Peace Tree Brewery – a locally owned brew pub
- Saints Rest Coffee – hot drinks, baked goods, and more
Fairfield
Head to Fairfield for a great day of exploring and adventures! This eclectic community is a great melting pot for many cultures, which offers several classic and unique experiences.
- Don’t Miss Attractions
- Fairfield Loop Trail – take a bike ride, run, or walk on this 16 mile loop trail!
- Maasdam Barns – this historic stop tells the story of agriculture in Iowa in the 1900’s.
- ICON Gallery – art lovers will enjoy this stop to take in high quality art.
- Downtown Fairfield – downtown (the square) offers lots of high quality shops to enjoy and patronize.
- Make it A Weekend Getaway
- Fairfield offers three different hotels and a beautiful bed & breakfast. They also have several campgrounds and even cabins for rent!
- Good Eats
- Istanbul Grill – this stops combines a hometown restaurant feel with delicious Mediterranean Cuisine
- Revelations Cafe & Bookstore – head for a hot coffee and quiet place to read or pick up lunch – I recommend the tuna melt!
- Fishback & Stephenson Cider House – not only are they brewing their own hard ciders, but also serving up delicious eats like one of the Top 10 Burgers in the state of Iowa!
- Cafe Paradiso – a hot coffee, fresh baked goods are all the combination for something great!
Pella
Whether you’re looking for a romantic weekend getaway, a girls trip, or a day trip, Pella is a great choice!
- Don’t Miss Attractions
- Vermeer Windmill & Pella Historical Village – learn about the Dutch culture of Pella and the history of it here. Make sure to take the trip to the top of the Vermeer Windmill to enjoy the view of downtown Pella
- Shop Downtown – enjoy the plethora of locally owned shops downtown like Blush, Simple Treasures, & my personal favorite: VanVeen Chocolates or grab a glass of wine from The Wijn House
- Wine Taste at Tassel Ridge Winery outside Pella – we recommend the wine & chocolate tasting pairings.
- Walk Molengracht Plaza – this unique Dutch canal near downtown is a great place to enjoy beautiful flowers and transport yourself to Amsterdam.
- Check out the view from Cordova Tower outside of Pella. It has exceptional views of Lake Red Rock…just be ready for all the stairs!
- Make it a Weekend Getaway
- Pella offers several places to spend a weekend, but in our opinion, no place is better than the Royal Amsterdam Hotel! Located downtown, on the Molengracht Plaza, you’ll have easy access to all things Pella with a stay at this newly remodeled hotel!
- Good Eats – meal options are endless in Pella, but we have a few extra special recommendations
- Brew Coffee House – delicious coffee & teas and a quiet place to visit or work make this a great spot.
- George’s Pizza & Steakhouse – go for the gyro platter, I promise you won’t be disappointed. But, if that isn’t your style, I hear the pizza is melt in your mouth deliciousness.
- Jaarsma Bakery – no trip to Pella is complete without a trip to Jaarsma’s for a Dutch letter or 6!
Ottumwa
Ottumwa may not be an obvious stop, but after you check it out, we guarantee you’ll add it to your list of weekend getaways in Southeast Iowa. They offer several great stops that you’ll enjoy!
- Don’t Miss Attractions
- Post at the American Gothic House – everyone knows the painting, but you can create your own work of art but posing outside this iconic home near Ottumwa.
- Aviators will love the Antique Airplane Association’s Air Power Museum.
- Parks, parks, parks – Ottumwa offers a large variety of parks for people to enjoy with hiking, fishing, disc golf, & more!
- Walk the Streets & enjoy all the street art that Ottumwa has to offer including an entire alley full of murals and sculptures!
- Make it a Weekend Getaway
- Ottumwa offers several hotels, a bed & breakfast, campground, and cabins, but a stay at the historic Hotel Ottumwa is a must when you’re in town!
- Good Eats
- 2nd Street Cafe – offering hot coffee & delicious breakfast
- Canteen Alley – world famous as one of the smallest restaurants serving up one of the most delicious loose meat sandwiches.
- Top Hat Coffee – smooth coffee with a funky vibe!
- Appanoose Rapids – an upscale dinner spot with a great ambiance!
- Mimi’s Taqueria – street tacos and other authentic, delicious Mexican food.
Bonus Stops
We have a few favorite stops in Southeast Iowa that we love, but don’t necessarily fit into an entire day trip or even weekend getaway, so I thought I’d share them here!
- The Jersey Freeze in Monroe – amazing ice cream creations! I suggest splitting a banana split with someone because you’ll never finish it by yourself!
- The Iowa State Fair – we love all fairs, but the Iowa State Fair combines agriculture, great food, fun, and music!
- Dan & Debbies Creamery in Ely – a local dairy creating cheese, milk, and delicious ice cream! Plus, they carry other great Iowa made products!
- Goldies Ice Cream Shoppe – ice cream or one of the best Tenderloins in Iowa, this small town stop is worth it!
Visit Southeast Iowa
Southeast Iowa is full of great day trips & weekend getaways! Whether you want to enjoy the great outdoors, support local businesses, or check out museums there is a stop for everyone! We guarantee that you’ll enjoy your getaways in Southeast Iowa!
I’m Sorry. It you need to check a map Cedar Rapids, Grinnell nor Pella are in SOUTHEAST Iowa! Those are ALL considered Central Iowa!
I understand they may not be considered traditionally Southeast Iowa, but if you notice I did explain early in the post that for the purpose of this post, I was considering Southeast as anything South of Highway 20 and East of I-35.