Traveling from Des Moines, IA to Kansas City, MO (Winterset: home, college)

[aiwei]

We are embarking on a 1700+ miles journey from Chicago To Phx, AZ. Our route would take us through Des Moines, IA to Kansas City, MO during our first day of driving. I have not been able to find a place to rest and eat a meal along Interstate 35. I am hoping someone in this forum could suggest a town after Des Moines that has a diner. This would be our lunch break during the 10.5 hour drive, so we really would like to sit down and rest in a restaurant instead of a fast food place. If you could help, please post your suggestion. Thanks.

[pepe1]

There is a casino in Osceola. It has a sit down restaurant and is immediately off of I-35. There probably are other dining options in the town of Osceola itself. It's really the only city of any meaningful size on I-35, south of Des Moines...

[metro223]

Lamoni is a town with a small college in Southern Decatur Co. Iowa - they may have somewhere good to eat.

[SharpHawkeye]

Unfortunately, I think you'll find I-35 between Des Moines and K.C. to be a lot more rural and sparse than I-80 from Chicago to Des Moines.

Osceola probably has something besides the casino. From there it's probably going to be more of a crapshoot. Lamoni might have a nice little diner, or Bethany or Cameron in MO.

If I were you, I would maybe stop in Des Moines for a big lunch. It's pretty easy to jump off the interstate there and have a quick lunch downtown. Otherwise, get off at Osceola or Lamoni, where you might have to poke around a bit, but that's part of the fun of traveling, I suppose.

[aiwei]

Thank you for taking the time to give me your suggestions! I will check out Osceola and Lamoni. And I will keep in mind about stopping in Des Moines before half way, in case the kiddies are famished. Now I need to figure out where to stop the next day...

[Luke9686]

I suggest stopping at a place called Tasty Taco's in Des Moines. It's the best fake mexican you'll ever have.

[capitalcityguy]

I second stopping in Des Moines for a break. You could make this easy by taking I-235 (instead of the I-35/I-80 bypass around the city) and make just one exit off the interstate (3rd Street). You'll head about 4 blocks to the south and be in the heart of the Court Ave entertainment district. You'll have plenty of family friendly places to choose from and most with patio or sidewalk dining so you can sit outside if the weather is nice. When you're done, simply head back north on 2nd and you're back on I-235 heading west to join back up with I-35.

If you want resturant recommendations, just holler.

Another suggestion if you're really not up for stopping in Des Moines, would be Winterset -- Home of Bridges of Madison County, John Wayne birthplace. There are several places around the town square that would serve a good meal. This is south of Des Moines, but I can't recall how far off the Interstate it is. I do believe it is too bad but I'd mapquest it to be sure.

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by Luke9686

I suggest stopping at a place called Tasty Taco's in Des Moines. It's the best fake mexican you'll ever have.

I'd like to point out that I would much rather eat "fake" tacos from Tasty Tacos than some weird part of a cow wrapped in a corn tortilla or whatever they really eat in Mexico.


There's a diner just across the Missour-uh border that has some silly train related name. There's a big sign, you can't miss it. I believe they have a buffet too.

[DC at the Ridge]

Bethany has a good diner right across from Wal-Mart and it's easy off and on I-35.

[metro223]

Hey there's always 'The Machine Shed' off of 80/35 in the Des Moines area.