Sightseeing Sunday: Weird Things to Do in Iowa
Looking for weird things to do in Iowa? We’ve been collecting roadside oddities, oversized objects, offbeat attractions, and stops that make you wonder how many John Deere factory tours one state actually needs.
Fun Facts About Iowa
Sliced bread was invented in Iowa — Otto Rohwedder built the first bread-slicing machine in 1912, and it hit store shelves in 1928.
Iowa produces about a sixth of the nation’s corn and has roughly three pigs for every resident.
Iowa is the only state whose east and west borders are both formed entirely by rivers — the Mississippi and the Missouri.
The Fenelon Place Elevator in Dubuque is the world’s shortest and steepest scenic railway.
Iowa delivers quirky roadside charm — giant gnomes, the world’s largest popcorn ball, and more John Deere factory tours than you can shake a stick at. Some of these we’ve visited, others are still on our list. When we’ve been somewhere, the link takes you to our photo page with details and snark. Otherwise, you’ll head to their official site — assuming one exists, since sometimes that’s half the adventure.
Unique Attractions & Weird Things to Do in Iowa
Weird Roadside & Oddities
Ames
World’s Largest Concrete Gnome – Giant garden gnome at Reiman Gardens.
Audubon
World’s Largest Bull – Albert the Bull on East Division Street.
Brandon
Iowa’s Largest Frying Pan – Oversized cooking implement.
Britt
The National Hobo Museum – Celebrating hobo culture and history.
Crystal Lake
World’s Largest Bullhead – Giant fish sculpture at 161-177 State St South.
Iowa City
World’s Largest Wooden Nickel – Located at 3246-3248 Iowa River Corridor Trail.
Sac City
World’s Largest Popcorn Ball – Giant popcorn ball at 1300 W Main St.
Strawberry Point
World’s Largest Strawberry – Giant strawberry sculpture at 111 Commercial Street.
Walcott
World’s Largest Truck Stop – Iowa 80 mega truck stop.
Factory Tours & Behind-the-Scenes
Ankeny
John Deere Des Moines Works Tour – Factory tour of John Deere operations.
Davenport
John Deere Davenport Works Tour – Factory tour of John Deere operations.
Dubuque
John Deere Dubuque Works Tour – Factory tour of John Deere operations.
Ottumwa
John Deere Ottumwa Works Tour – Factory tour of John Deere operations.
Waterloo
John Deere Tractor Cab Assembly Operations Tour – See tractor cab assembly in action.
Parks, Trails & Waterfalls
Columbus Junction
Lover’s Leap Swinging Bridge – Located in Swinging Bridge Park, 303 Oak Street.
Food, TV Stops & Local Legends
Dyersville
Field of Dreams Movie Site – Baseball field from the iconic film.
Plan Your Iowa Road Trip
We’re always adding new weird things to do in Iowa to this list, so check back for more roadside attractions, quirky museums, oversized oddities, and future road trip discoveries.
Where to next? Check out our Kansas roadside attractions guide for more Midwest weird, browse our complete roadside attractions by state guide, get tips for traveling with pets, or head back to the Right At The Light homepage.
Interactive Map: Weird Roadside Stops We’re Tracking
This map includes weird roadside attractions, big-rig friendly stops, and places still on our running road trip list across the country.