The Three Best Scenic Drives to See Fall Colors in Iowa

Midwest Living recently published a list of the "25 Ultimate Fall Drives" throughout the Midwest for 2024, and three Iowa routes made the cut!

The first Iowa route on Midwest Living's list was the Historic Hills Scenic Byway at number 18. According to Travel Iowa, "the 105- mile route winding through rolling hills, extensive forests and 20 towns with no fast food restaurants to be found." Communities on the route include:

• Bentonsport
• Birmingham
• Blakesburg
• Bloomfield
• Bonaparte
• Cantril
• Donnellson
• Douds-Leando
• Drakesville
• Eldon
• Farmington
• Iowaville-Selma
• Keosauqua
• Milton
• Moravia
• Mount Sterling
• Unionville
• Stockport

Travel Iowa has a list of popular attractions and businesses along the byway, like Addie May Fudge, the American Gothic House, the Historic Greef General Store, Lake Wapello State Park, Milton Creamery, Herschler Winery, and the Shimek State Forest. You can check out all the suggestions HERE.

Another cool thing about the Historic Hills Scenic Byway is that the Villages of Van Buren host the Scenic Drive Festival every October. The website says it includes "arts and crafts vendors, antique vendors, art shows, music, garage sales, kids' entertainment, parades, car and motorcycle shows, food, and more activities" throughout the 11 different villages, which are all located along the byway. This year's event will be held October 11th through the 13th.

The next Iowa drive on Midwest Living's list is the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway at number 21. This route travels along Iowa's western border and spans over 200 miles, from Sioux City all the way to St. Joseph, Missouri!

The Visit Loess Hills website describes the hills as "unique land formations" that are made "almost entirely of windblown soils." They began forming long, long ago at the end of the last ice age. Counties on the route include:

• Fremont
• Harrison
• Mills
• Monona
• Plymouth
• Pottawattamie
• Woodbury

If you're looking for great places to stop during your drive, recommendations from Travel Iowa include the Lewis & Clark Monument and Scenic Overlook, DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Hitchcock Nature Center, Bodega Victoriana Winery, Loess Hills Lavender Farm, Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve, and Art Church.

And finally, at number 24 we have the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway. This route is 77 miles long and travels through the follow communities:

• Amana/Amana Colonies
• Belle Plaine
• Chelsea
• Homestead
• Marengo
• Montour
• Tama
• Toledo

Travel Iowa says that the Valley Scenic Byway takes you through "rural agricultural land, Iowa River wetlands, and a rich cultural patchwork" that includes Iowa's only resident Native American community. Some of the recommended stops on the site include the Meskwaki Cultural Center & Museum, Gladbrook’s Matchstick Marvels Museum, Clutier’s Historic Town Jail, Lily Lake, the Amana Woolen Mill, Millstream Brewing Co., and Rube's Steakhouse.