7 Friendliest Towns To Visit In Iowa In 2024
Small-town living in Iowa offers a unique blend of charm, community, and simplicity that is hard to find elsewhere. In these tight-knit communities, residents enjoy a slower pace of life and welcome visitors with a friendly smile. The state's small towns are rich in history, boasting well-preserved architecture, local festivals, and attractions that reflect their heritage. From the Danish roots of Elk Horn to the ice cream fame of Le Mars and the baseball nostalgia of Dyersville to the riverfront beauty of LeClaire, Iowa's small towns exude friendliness and hospitality, creating a perfect setting for a day trip, an overnight visit or a long weekend in 2024.
Dyersville
Dyersville is an all-American small town that pays homage to toys and baseball. Known as “The Farm Toy Capital of the World,” it is home to the Ertl Company, the farm toy manufacturer of those mini yellow and green John Deere tractors kids love. Visit the National Farm Toy Museum, learn about out-of-work founder Fred Ertl, Sr., who began making toy tractors in his basement, and check out an exhibit displaying 75 years of farm toys. There’s also a doll museum in Dyersville—the Dyer Botsford House—housed in a historic Victorian home with an extensive collection of over 2000 dolls.
“If you build it, they will come” is a classic line from the iconic 1989 film, “Field of Dreams,” filmed in Dyersville. Experience a bit of movie magic by visiting the Field of Dreams Movie Site, which hosts MLB games and tournaments like the Moonlight Graham Classic from September 6 - 8, 2024, or head to the site for Ghost Saturdays in July and August 2024 to watch the Ghost Players entertain visitors with their self-proclaimed “Greatest Show on Dirt.” Visitors can also explore the Kinsella home, the Field of Dreams Farm House, a gift shop, and, for superfans, even spend an overnight in the house.
Le Mars
Known as the “Ice Cream Capital of the World,” the small Midwest town of Le Mars is home to Wells Enterprises, one of the world’s largest ice cream producers. The town pays tribute to the yummy treat with fifty-five 6-foot-tall ice cream cone sculptures designed and painted by local artists throughout the downtown area. Visitors can pick up a map and head out on a self-guided tour, then reward themselves with ice cream at the landmark Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor and Museum. Scoop up a souvenir from a large selection of ice cream-themed merch at the gift shop. Finally, Le Mars holds a 3-day festival every June that is frozen fun for the whole family.
Stroll through downtown Le Mars and explore ten alleys covered in whimsical murals by 115 Midwest artists, or visit the Le Mars Arts Center to see the prestigious American Watercolor Society 157th Traveling Exhibition from June 11 - July 13, 2024. The Browns Music Theater, housed in a century-old bank building, offers live entertainment, comedians, and Broadway-style musicals.
Pella
Less than an hour from Iowa’s capital, Des Moines, Pella is a small town founded by immigrants from Holland in 1847. The town’s distinctive Dutch architecture is reminiscent of Holland, complete with wooden clogs, delicious Dutch pastries from Jaarsma Bakery, and the Klokkenspel—a clock tower that features eight 4-foot historical figures and bells that chime several times a day. Visitors to Pella can’t miss the Vermeer Windmill, built in an 18502-style grain mill in the Netherlands and shipped to Pella in 2002. At 124 feet-6 inches tall, the windmill is the tallest working windmill in North America. Take a guided tour of the windmill in the center of Pella’s Historical Village and visit the 22 historic buildings surrounding the windmill, including the Scholte House Museum & Gardens—the home of the town founders.
Pella holds its Annual Tulip Festival for three days every spring, attracting thousands of visitors yearly. On May 1 - 3, 2025, the town will hold its 90th Tulip Festival, which celebrates Pella's Dutch roots with vibrant tulip displays, traditional Dutch costumes, colorful parades, performances, and delicious Dutch food.
LeClaire
LeClaire is a river town across the Mississippi River from Illinois, so why not spend some time on the river on a sightseeing cruise from Riverboat Twilight? Departing from LeClaire, visitors can choose from 90-minute cruises or a 2-day return trip signature cruise from LeClaire to Dubuque, Iowa. While there, take some time to stroll along the levee, relax in the parks, and watch the riverboats and barges pass by. Try Steventon’s or the Crane & Pelican Cafe in a historic River Pilot home for casual dining with a view of the Mississippi.
Although LeClaire is in the Midwest, the town is strongly connected to the “Wild West,” as it was the 1846 birthplace of William Frederic Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill. The town pays tribute to their local son with the Buffalo Bill Museum, which showcases his life, his contributions to American history as a legendary figure of the Old West, and memorabilia from his famous "Buffalo Bill's Wild West" show, which he started in 1883. The town is also home to “Antique Archaeology,” a shop selling vintage treasures, collectibles, and unique home decor items made famous by the “American Pickers” show on the History Channel, which is currently in its 25th season.
Winterset
From Buffalo Bill's birthplace in LeClaire to the iconic actor John Wayne's birthplace in Winterset, Iowa’s hometown sons both had significance in the popular image of the American West. John Wayne (“Duke”) is recognized as the quintessential cowboy, and Winterset pays tribute to him at the John Wayne Birthplace and Museum. The museum has an extensive collection of clothing, letters, film paraphernalia, and memorabilia from the actor’s life and career. There’s even an onsite movie theater where visitors can sit in seats from Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood and watch a documentary on Duke’s career.
The Hollywood connection doesn’t stop there. Winterset is famous for its beautifully preserved covered bridges, featured in the book and film The Bridges of Madison County. It was made famous by Clint Eastwood, another actor known for his gruff portrayals of cowboys on the big screen. Stop by the Welcome Center in town to book a personal two-hour guided tour of Madison Country bridges, including the Roseman Bridge, Holliwell Bridge, and Cedar Bridge, where visitors will learn about the history of the bridges, secrets from the movie set, and the opportunity to take lots of scenic photos.
From October 12 - 13, 2024, Winterset celebrates its 2024 Covered Bridge Festival with a pancake breakfast, tractor rides, arts & crafts vendors, live music, food, and more. With so much going on in this small town, it’s no wonder it was a “Best Small Town in the Midwest” in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice 2024.
Shenandoah
Shenandoah, 60 miles southeast of the Omaha and Council Bluffs area, is called the “City with Energy” thanks to its renewable fuel production, entrepreneurial spirit, and friendly locals. The town also recognizes the more than 120 famous Iowans from across the state on the 4-block Iowa Walk of Fame, including the Everly Brothers, who sang “Bye Bye Love” and “Wake Up Little Susie.” Considered pioneers of rock and roll during the 50s and 60s, the brothers spent their childhood in Shenandoah, and their home is now a historic house museum. For more history on the area, visit the Shenandoah Historical Museum to view local artifacts, historical documents, and displays that highlight the town's heritage.
Take a self-guided tour of the downtown area to see the colorful murals created by local children attending the Wabash Arts Camp, then continue to spend time outdoors by biking or hiking the Wabash Trace Nature Trail—a converted railroad right-of-way stretching 63 miles through the scenic Southwest Iowa countryside, crossing over 70 bridges, with a trailhead in Shenandoah. On the trail's north end, visitors travel through Loess Hills, formed 14,000 years ago by windblown loess soil. While loess soil isn’t unusual, the hills have grown over 200 - 300 feet, previously only seen in northern China.
Elk Horn
Without a doubt, the authentic 1848 Danish Windmill, brought from Nørre Snede, Denmark, and rebuilt in Elk Horn, put the small town of 638 residents on the map. The brainchild of a local farmer of Danish descent, Harvey Sornson, the 60-foot-tall landmark has endured two world wars, a fire, and a trip across the Atlantic Ocean to reach Elk Horn in 1976. Today, it is the only working Danish Windmill in the United States, and shortly after its arrival, Denmark passed a law stating that no more mills were allowed out of the country.
There’s a Museum of Danish America in town, which preserves and promotes Danish heritage. Nearby Bedstemor's House, a restored 1908 Danish immigrant home, provides a glimpse into early Danish settler life in Iowa with guided tours and period artifacts. Every year, the town celebrates Tivoli Fest on Memorial Day weekend. This event has drawn thousands of people from around the globe for over 40 years and includes a street market, parade, and an aebleskiver (a traditional Danish pancake) eating contest. Elk Horn and the neighboring town of Kimballton stand out as two of the largest rural Danish settlements in the United States.
Friendly faces and welcoming, down-to-earth communities are just some reasons people love the Midwest. The area is also home to some of the most charming, scenic, and historic small towns in America. Visitors looking for a relaxing getaway, a cultural adventure, or a family-friendly destination in 2024 will find what they’re looking for in any of these seven friendly small towns.
