Explore Iowa’s Grant Wood Scenic Byway for Stunning Fall Colors

One of my favorite things to do in the fall is to drive around different small towns and check out the fall colors.

Here in the Hawkeye State, autumn seems so short. If you can take a moment, just try to pause what you're doing and take a look at some of the leaves changing colors.

A recent survey came out that determined that one of the best spots for fall drives to check out the leaves, is right here in Iowa!

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Gunther VW Coconut Creek put together a list of the top 140 fall foliage freeways in the nation. This ranking was voted on by "3,000 leaf peepers."

Here are the top ten from the list:

1. West Virginia ~ Seneca Trail US Route 219
2. Maryland ~ Falls Road (MD Route 25)
3. Pennsylvania ~ Allegheny Scenic Drive
4. South Carolina ~ Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway
5. Colorado ~ Rim Rock Drive
6. Kentucky ~ Red River Gorge Scenic Byway
7. Virginia ~ Back of the Dragon (Route 16)
8. Maryland ~ Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway
9. Rhode Island ~ Mount Hope Bay Loop
10. Nebraska ~ The Circle Road

Where Does Iowa Fall on the List?

In this ranking, Iowa came in at seventy-six. The Hawkeye State follows closely behind Arkansas's Boston Mountains Scenic Loop and beats out Vermont with its Mad River Byway.

The Iowa drive that is being recognized for its amazing fall foliage is the Grant Wood Scenic Byway. You can check out a full map of the entire drive here. 

Grant Wood...that's a name that sounds a bit familiar, right?

What is the Grant Wood Scenic Byway?

This beautiful byway stretches across eighty miles of paved roads in the Hawkeye State. It is so massive that it actually runs through two counties: Jackson and Jones.

According to reports, the byway actually inspired the great Iowa artist Grant Wood. It even passes through his hometown of Anamosa and multiple other towns like; Stone City, Wyoming, Baldwin, Maquoketa, Monmouth, Andrew, Springbrook, and Bellevue.

Those who wish to travel this route can make stops at countless museums, historical sites, antique shops, restaurants, parks, art galleries and wineries set up along the stretch of roads.

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