An Iowa road trip in the fall is peak living. The temperatures are (somewhat) turning crisp, the summer shades of green are turning red, orange, and gold, and a hot cup of coffee with a cozy playlist while cruising down a scenic bypass becomes a must.
If leaf peeping in Iowa is on your fall to-do list, the northeast part of the state is a particularly good place to start. The Iowa DNR says peak fall color in northeast Iowa typically arrives around the weekend closest to Oct. 10, though the timing varies from year to year.
For 2026, the DNR’s weekly Fall Color Reports begin Sept. 30 and continue through October, making them the best way to time a trip once the season gets underway.
And while the Driftless Area gets plenty of attention, it’s far from the only place worth a fall drive. Here are some spots and routes to put on your 2026 list.
Follow the Mississippi River north
If you only make one fall road trip this year, make it along the Mississippi River. Start around Guttenberg (and make a stop at the Guttenberg North Scenic Overlook) and head north on the Iowa Great River Road. The region’s color typically peaks during the first two weeks of October.
You can plan to pass through Marquette and McGregor, making a point to stop at the Marquette Observation Deck, which juts out over the Mississippi, while McGregor offers access to Pikes Peak State Park, where overlooks sit high above the river.
For an even bigger day, cross the river into Wisconsin and continue north toward Prairie du Chien and La Crosse. From La Crosse, cross back into Minnesota and work your way south before returning to Iowa around McGregor.
For such a big day, give yourself as much time as possible, and if you can turn it into a weekend, even better. The area is full of small towns, restaurants, shops, trails, and places to stay.
Make a weekend of the Driftless Area
There’s plenty to see if you’d rather stay on the Iowa side of the river. Elkader is a great fall stop, with the Turkey River running through town and lots of opportunities to stretch your legs, grab something to eat, and explore local shops. The River Bluffs Scenic Byway also includes the Chicken Ridge Scenic Overlook near Elkader.
Farther north, the views get even better around Harpers Ferry. Yellow River State Forest covers thousands of acres and offers hiking trails, overlooks, and backroads through the wooded Driftless landscape. Larkin Overlook and Paint Creek Overlook are two particularly good places to take in the scenery.
Then there’s Effigy Mounds National Monument. The Fire Point Loop is a 2-mile hike with about 350 feet of elevation gain and two overlooks of the Mississippi River Valley. For a longer outing, Twin Views extends the hike to about 3 miles and includes overlooks facing both north and south.
There’s also a 2026 bonus: The National Park Service is offering ranger-guided Fire Point hikes at 10 a.m. on Sundays, Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays through Oct. 31. The hikes are free and take about two hours.
Take in the view from a tower
Sometimes the best way to see fall color is to get above it. In Forest City, Pilot Knob State Park is home to an observation tower that provides a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding landscape. It’s an easy addition to a northern Iowa fall drive, especially if you want a destination beyond the Mississippi River corridor.
Farther south, Jefferson offers another elevated option. Head to the observation deck at the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower for a view over town and the surrounding countryside.
And if you’re looking for a classic overlook, add Mount Hosmer City Park in Lansing to the leaf-peeping list, which sits about 450 feet above the Mississippi River and can offer views for miles and miles.
Hike through the color
If you’ve got some energy, hop out of the car and soak in the leaves for real.
Swiss Valley Nature Preserve in Dubuque County is one option for a wooded hike, while the nearby Mines of Spain Recreation Area offers trails through a mix of forest, prairie, and river landscapes.
And don’t count out Ledges State Park near Boone. Its big bluffs and wooded trails make it one of central Iowa’s most scenic (and popular) places for a fall hike.
Head to Madison County
Madison County in south-central Iowa is a perennial favorite, thanks in part to its six remaining covered bridges. The 82-mile Covered Bridges Scenic Byway winds through the county, combining the historic bridges with rolling hills, river valleys, parks, and scenic country roads.
Fall is an especially good time to make the drive, when the bridges are surrounded by vibrant changing leaves. Winterset makes a convenient home base, with shops and restaurants around the courthouse square.
There’s also a very specific 2026 reason to visit: The Madison County Covered Bridge Festival is scheduled for Oct. 10-11. The annual event is quite literally like a Hallmark movie and brings more than 150 food and arts-and-crafts vendors to the town square, along with live music, demonstrations, activities, and covered bridge tours. Fall perfection.
Explore a few more Iowa fall favorites
For a shorter outing closer to central Iowa, try Corkscrew Hill outside Dexter, then stop at Springbrook State Park.
Preparation Canyon State Park near Woodbine is a good western Iowa option, with the rugged terrain of the Loess Hills providing a quintessential fall vibe.
In southeast Iowa, Lacey-Keosauqua State Park in Van Buren County offers wooded trails and hills, while the town of LeClaire provides an option for a fall drive along the Mississippi River, followed by time exploring shops and restaurants.
When should you go?
For northeast Iowa, the first two weeks of October are a good starting point, with the DNR identifying the weekend closest to Oct. 10 as the area’s average peak. But don’t treat that date as a guarantee. Weather can move the timeline earlier or later, and different tree species change at different times.
For 2026, check the Iowa DNR’s Fall Color Report beginning Sept. 30 before you load up the car. The weekly reports track where color is developing across the state, so you can choose your destination based on what’s actually happening rather than relying on a calendar date.
Then pack a thermos, charge your phone, and take the scenic route.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Related: 15 fall events across eastern, northern, and central Iowa worth the drive in 2026
