A Big Driving Tip for Iowa

Iowa certainly has its wide-open expanses. They're beautiful, but if you are going to need some creature comforts such as store-bought items, gas, food, or a place to sleep, you'd better get them when you can. Don't figure there will be another one "down the road."

You can go for miles and miles and miles before you get to that "down the road" place you need.

This especially holds true for US-20, I-39 (?) running along the western border between Sioux City and Missouri Valley, I-80 from Council Bluffs to Des Moines, I-35 from Ames to Ankeny, and the same with US-69 from Ankeny to Huxton.

We have encountered these situations in I-35 and I-39 this trip as well as US-20 and US-69. The Super 8 we found in Owana(?) was the only motel between Sioux City and Missouri Valley (about twenty miles north of Council Bluffs).

There have been some mad dashes for bathrooms and fruitless motel searches on occasion.

Beautiful State, But Definitely Go When You Have to Go. --RoadDog