Iowa road guide
The best motorcycle roads in Iowa
The best motorcycle roads in Iowa are in its corners: the Great River Road through McGregor and Marquette, IA 9 across the Driftless hills to Lansing, US 52 from Dubuque to Bellevue, and the Loess Hills along the western edge. Add Madison County's covered bridges, the Lincoln Highway and the river villages of Van Buren County, and here are 11 rides with what to watch for and the best season.
- Roads listed
- 11
- Best region
- Northeast Iowa
- Best months
- May, June, Sept, Oct
- Check before you go
- 511ia.org
Before you pick
How to use this list of the best motorcycle roads in Iowa
Iowa really is flat and straight across much of the middle, so the best rides take you to the edges. Northeast Iowa is part of the Driftless Area, with bluffs, trout streams and roads that twist down to the Mississippi. The far west has the Loess Hills, steep ridges of windblown soil found almost nowhere else on Earth. In between, the riding is about history: covered bridges, old highways and river villages.
Iowa also has a lot of gravel. Many county roads are unpaved, and GPS routing loves them, so check your route before you commit. For timing, see the best time to ride in Iowa, and for the regions, the Iowa overview. Check 511ia.org for closures and construction.
Northeast Iowa
The Driftless and the Mississippi
- 1. Great River Road, McGregor to GuttenbergWhy: The best stretch of the river road in Iowa, through McGregor and Marquette, past the overlooks at Pikes Peak State Park and the Effigy Mounds National Monument, then south to Guttenberg. Watch for: Slow traffic in the river towns, trains, and deer along the river. Best season: May to October, best in fall color.
- 2. IA 9, Decorah to LansingWhy: Crosses the Driftless from Decorah, a lively college town, through hills and valleys to Lansing on the Mississippi. Climb to the Mount Hosmer overlook in Lansing, then cross the old Black Hawk Bridge into Wisconsin. Watch for: Farm equipment, deer and gravel spilled at intersections. Best season: May to October.
- 3. US 52, Dubuque to BellevueWhy: Leaves Dubuque heading south beside the Mississippi and ends up in Bellevue, a river town with a lock and dam and a state park overlook on the bluff. Watch for: Trucks near Dubuque and slow drivers in Bellevue. Best season: May to October.
- 4. Backbone State ParkWhy: Iowa's first state park, near Strawberry Point, with paved park roads that curve through limestone bluffs along the Maquoketa River. Short but a rare taste of real hills in the middle of farm country. Watch for: Park traffic, hikers and low speed limits. Best season: May to October.
- 5. Anamosa and Stone CityWhy: Home of the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, plus Grant Wood country around nearby Stone City, with rolling backroads and limestone hills. A good destination ride from Cedar Rapids or Iowa City. Watch for: Narrow county roads, gravel stretches and farm traffic. Best season: April to October.
Western Iowa
The Loess Hills and the Iowa Great Lakes
- 6. Loess Hills Scenic BywayWhy: A long byway down Iowa's western edge, with side loops that climb into the steep Loess Hills past Preparation Canyon State Park and the Loess Hills State Forest near Pisgah. Big views over the Missouri River valley. Watch for: Gravel on some loops, tight crests and farm traffic. Best season: May to June, September to October.
- 7. Iowa Great Lakes around OkobojiWhy: In the northwest corner, the roads around West Okoboji, East Okoboji and Spirit Lake link resort towns and the old Arnolds Park amusement park. A relaxed summer ride. Watch for: Boat trailers, summer crowds and people crossing the road. Best season: June to September.
Central and southeast Iowa
Covered bridges, old highways and river villages
- 8. Madison County covered bridgesWhy: IA 92 leads to Winterset, John Wayne's birthplace and the base for Madison County's six remaining covered bridges, including the Roseman Bridge. Rolling, quiet roads southwest of Des Moines. Watch for: Gravel approaches to some bridges, slow sightseers and slick wooden decks. Best season: May to October.
- 9. US 30, the Lincoln HighwayWhy: America's first coast-to-coast highway crosses Iowa through small towns, old gas stations and farm country, with original brick and concrete stretches nearby. More history than curves. Watch for: Crosswinds and slow farm equipment. Best season: May to October.
- 10. Villages of Van Buren CountyWhy: IA 1 leads to Keosauqua and Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, and county roads link the old Des Moines River villages of Bentonsport and Bonaparte, with brick storefronts and river views. Watch for: Narrow pavement, unpaved side roads, and slow going through the villages. Best season: May to October.
- 11. IA 220 through the Amana ColoniesWhy: The seven historic Amana villages sit between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, and IA 220 ties them together past farms, breweries, shops and family-style restaurants. Pair it with Anamosa for a full day. Watch for: Visitors on foot between shops, and cars creeping along looking for parking. Best season: May to October.
Summary
Iowa motorcycle roads at a glance
| Road | Region | Best season |
|---|---|---|
| Great River Road, McGregor to Guttenberg | Northeast | May to Oct |
| IA 9, Decorah to Lansing | Northeast | May to Oct |
| US 52, Dubuque to Bellevue | East | May to Oct |
| Backbone State Park | Northeast | May to Oct |
| Anamosa and Stone City | East | Apr to Oct |
| Loess Hills Scenic Byway | West | Spring and fall |
| Iowa Great Lakes | Northwest | Jun to Sep |
| Madison County covered bridges | Central | May to Oct |
| US 30, Lincoln Highway | Statewide | May to Oct |
| Villages of Van Buren County | Southeast | May to Oct |
| IA 220, Amana Colonies | East central | May to Oct |
Make them count
Add Iowa roads to Rippin'
Most of these roads aren't in Rippin' yet, so the first rider to add one gets their name on it. Ride it with Rippin' recording, open Segments and tap Create a Segment: drop a start gate and a finish gate and trace the line. A person on our team checks it before it goes live. Read more on segments and leaderboards and how roads get added.
A segment board is about who owns the road and who rides it, not a race. Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads.
Iowa's grid of roads makes turf easy to claim. Ride a loop out of Decorah to Lansing and back down the river, and the land inside becomes your turf on the live map. Plan it with the loop builder and skip the gravel. Roads riders have already added in Iowa are listed below.
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Iowa on Rippin' right now.
2 upcoming events and 0 rider-added roads in Iowa on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.
- Thu Nov 5Ladies Night at Zylstra Harley-DavidsonAmes
- Fri Jan 15AMA FIM North American Arenacross ChampionshipCedar Rapids
No Iowa roads are in the app yet. Add the one you love from Segments and a person on our team checks it before it goes live. How roads get added.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in Iowa?
The Great River Road through McGregor and Marquette and IA 9 from Decorah to Lansing are the best known. Out west, the Loess Hills Scenic Byway is the other standout.
Are there curvy roads in Iowa?
Yes, in northeast Iowa's Driftless Area and in the Loess Hills along the western edge. The middle of the state is mostly flat and straight.
What are good motorcycle rides near Des Moines?
The Madison County covered bridges around Winterset are the closest good ride. US 30 and the Lincoln Highway towns make an easy day.
What are good motorcycle rides near Cedar Rapids?
Anamosa and the National Motorcycle Museum, Stone City, the Amana Colonies on IA 220, and Backbone State Park to the north.
Does Iowa have a lot of gravel roads?
Yes. Many county roads are gravel, and routing apps sometimes send you down them. Look over your route before you ride, and expect loose gravel where unpaved roads meet the pavement.
Can I add these Iowa roads to Rippin'?
Yes. Any rider can add a road with Create a Segment. Someone on the Rippin' team reviews it before it goes live, and it keeps your name.
Put an Iowa road on the map.
Download Rippin' free, ride one of these with it recording, and add it as a segment. Your name stays on it.
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