? About Iowa Roads and Motels (Cedar Rapids, Mason City: hotels, purchase, live)

[SCGranny]

Hi! We plan on traveling through NW and Central Iowa at the end of October (looking to purchase some cows and horses). Now I know snow in October in Iowa - like in Nebraska, where we have lived for over a year - is highly unusual. But one does like to plan ahead...

We will be driving on Hwy 20 across NE and Iowa for the most part, with a scoot up I-35 to Britt and a scoot down I-380 to just above Cedar Rapids. Are the rural roads kept well plowed and salted/sanded, are they in fair to good repair? I really hate interstates - they just are so boring - and avoid them whenever I can; but the state DOTs sometimes neglect the rural, state, and even federal roads to keep the interstates plowed and clean. Are there any hazards (aside from the deer, etc) to watch out for? (DH likes interstates, two-lane rural roads make him nervous in the snow; we have seen too many lousy DOTs where cars end up in ditches because the snow piles up in the roadway or they only plow one side at a time.)

Is it a long way between towns on Hwy 20 with gas stations and "rest stops" and restaurants? We are looking at staying N of Urbana the first night and around Mason City the next night. Mason City looks like it has a lot of resort-type business on the lake; are the motels open in the winter there as well?
Thank you!
Any help would be appreciated!

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by SCGranny

are the motels open in the winter there as well?
Thank you!

I'm sure. I imagine these hotels get a lot of "just passing through" patrons like yourself throughout the year because they're on I-35. Finding lodging in Mason City shouldn't be a problem.

[pepe1]

I'll clarify one point that might lead to some confusion in your travels - Mason City is not on a Lake - It is in clsoe proximity to Clear Lake (about 5 miles) and Clear Lake is a separate town.

Most of the hotels/resorts are open year round on Clear Lake.

[QuadCityImages]

I guess I can't speak for the Northern part of the state, but here in the middle the chances of enough snow accumulation in late October to cause driving problems is very slim. And from what I hear it already happened once this year out west, so what are the chances it would again...

[Chicago60614]

The earliest recorded accumulating snowfall across Iowa was October 18th. That's ever.

The ground temps in Iowa are around 50 to 60 degrees in October, so it's normally quite difficult for the ground to freeze over so early in the year. On average the first snowfall in the state that doesn't melt right away is around November 10th. Of course even at that time of the year it's almost always gone within a few days.

I wouldn't worry too much about snow in October, especially if you're not driving on random dirt roads.

[WyoNewk]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

The earliest recorded accumulating snowfall across Iowa was October 18th. That's ever.

Ever?

Here's a picture of my sister's deck last Saturday morning, Oct. 10. She lives just outside Shelby, IA. It was 5.5 inches of something.

[SCGranny]

Yup, I was asking because we in NE just got a couple of inches (North Platte got 17 inches!) over the weekend. So I foresee a long and cold winter - and want to be on the safe side the end of THIS October.

[jmgg]

Originally Posted by WyoNewk

Ever?

Here's a picture of my sister's deck last Saturday morning, Oct. 10. She lives just outside Shelby, IA. It was 5.5 inches of something.

[SharpHawkeye]

Originally Posted by SCGranny

Yup, I was asking because we in NE just got a couple of inches (North Platte got 17 inches!) over the weekend. So I foresee a long and cold winter - and want to be on the safe side the end of THIS October.

I think you might be right on that.

Now, I've always thought Iowa did a pretty good job about snow plowing, salt/sand, towing ditched cars, etc. But with the economy in the tank and the state budget cuts...I think we're all going to have to be a little more careful on the roads this winter.