Highest-rated free things to do in Iowa by visitors

Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Iowa.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Iowa using data from . Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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1 / 30

#30. East Village

- Rating: 4.4/5 (176 reviews)
- City: Des Moines
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2 / 30

#29. Freight House Farmers Market

- Rating: 4.7/5 (77 reviews)
- City: Davenport
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3 / 30

#28. Snake Alley

- Rating: 4.6/5 (291 reviews)
- City: Burlington
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4 / 30

#27. Roseman Bridge

- Rating: 4.6/5 (247 reviews)
- City: Winterset
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5 / 30

#26. Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark

- Rating: 4.2/5 (349 reviews)
- City: Amana
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6 / 30

#25. Vander Veer Botanical Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (185 reviews)
- City: Davenport
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7 / 30

#24. Stone Cliff Winery

- Rating: 4.3/5 (237 reviews)
- City: Dubuque
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8 / 30

#23. Diamond Jo Casino

- Rating: 3.7/5 (543 reviews)
- City: Dubuque
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9 / 30

#22. Gray's Lake Park

- Rating: 4.6/5 (329 reviews)
- City: Des Moines
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10 / 30

#21. Trinity Heights

- Rating: 4.8/5 (143 reviews)
- City: Sioux City
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Tripadvisor

11 / 30

#20. Union Pacific Railroad Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (314 reviews)
- City: Council Bluffs
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#19. Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

- Rating: 4.6/5 (301 reviews)
- City: Sioux City
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13 / 30

#18. Antique Archeology

- Rating: 3.6/5 (921 reviews)
- City: Le Claire
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#17. Des Moines Art Center

- Rating: 4.5/5 (322 reviews)
- City: Des Moines
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15 / 30

#16. Iowa 80 Trucking Museum

- Rating: 4.9/5 (649 reviews)
- City: Walcott
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16 / 30

#15. Devonian Fossil Gorge

- Rating: 4.3/5 (157 reviews)
- City: not available
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#14. Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

- Rating: 4.7/5 (282 reviews)
- City: Dubuque
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#13. Dunnings Spring Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (240 reviews)
- City: Decorah
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#12. Plane Crash Site of Buddy Holly

- Rating: 4.4/5 (297 reviews)
- City: Clear Lake
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#11. Effigy Mounds National Monument

- Rating: 4.5/5 (270 reviews)
- City: Harpers Ferry
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21 / 30

#10. Pikes Peak State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (363 reviews)
- City: McGregor
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#9. Mines of Spain Recreation Area

- Rating: 4.6/5 (255 reviews)
- City: Dubuque
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#8. High Trestle Trail Bridge

- Rating: 4.8/5 (232 reviews)
- City: Madrid
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#7. Pappajohn Sculpture Park

- Rating: 4.4/5 (752 reviews)
- City: Des Moines
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25 / 30

#6. Horseshoe Council Bluffs

- Rating: 4.2/5 (8,620 reviews)
- City: Council Bluffs
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26 / 30

#5. Downtown Farmers Market

- Rating: 4.7/5 (426 reviews)
- City: Des Moines
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#4. Capitol Building

- Rating: 4.8/5 (909 reviews)
- City: Des Moines
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28 / 30

#3. Grotto of the Redemption

- Rating: 4.8/5 (288 reviews)
- City: West Bend
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#2. Maquoketa Caves State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (247 reviews)
- City: Maquoketa
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30 / 30

#1. Field of Dreams Movie Site

- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,316 reviews)
- City: Dyersville
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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