Driving thru Iowa (Des Moines, Davenport, Sioux City: shop, food, stations)

[MayMoveInFuture]

Hi all, just wondering if someone could offer any tips for my drive.
I will be arriving in Davenport (from Ohio) to spend the night. The next morning I head out to Oacoma SD.
Would it be better to take I-80, 380 to the 90 OR I-80, 380 to 20W to 90 OR some other route?
By "better" I mean the available of places such as gas stations, rest stops, food stops, stores

[jmgg]

Originally Posted by MayMoveInFuture

Hi all, just wondering if someone could offer any tips for my drive.
I will be arriving in Davenport (from Ohio) to spend the night. The next morning I head out to Oacoma SD.
Would it be better to take I-80, 380 to the 90 OR I-80, 380 to 20W to 90 OR some other route?
By "better" I mean the available of places such as gas stations, rest stops, food stops, stores

Based on your definition of what would be better for you for this trip, you might as well stay on I-80 all the way across Iowa, connect with I-29 just north of Omaha and take this up to Sioux Falls and connect with I-90 going west. ALL routes you mentioned would have ample gas stations, food, etc on the way to Sioux Falls. This is pretty populated country yet. Your not out in the "west" on the prairie yet. The route I mentioned would probably be the fastest. Once you hit the interstate system in South Dakota the speed limit is 80 mph.

Equally fast would be I-80 to Des Moines, then I-35 north and connecting with I-90 at Albert Lea Minnesota and then west. Either way it's interstate all the way.

It starts getting a little more spread out between towns when you get west of Mitchell SD, but when you get there it's only about an hours drive to Oacoma where you can eat buffalo burgers at Al's Oasis.

[MayMoveInFuture]

Terrific, thank you jmgg

[rayman29]

I would also consider taking Highway 20 across the state. There’s not any rest areas, but several gas stations, and far less traffic than I-80. On the other hand the virus will probably mean less traffic on 80 than usual. Have a good trip.

[Star691]

Recommend taking I-80 to I-380 to Rt 20 to I-29 to I-90. That stretch of I-90 between Albert Lea and Sioux Falls is as about as dull as dull can get. You would also avoid Des Moines traffic, and could even stop by the Hard Rock in Sioux City if you have time.

[fezzador]

I-35 is pretty snooze worthy, but it has nothing on I-90.

[jmgg]

Originally Posted by fezzador

I-35 is pretty snooze worthy, but it has nothing on I-90.

This is Iowa for crying out loud. There really isn't anything to see other than corn no matter what route they take heading west from Davenport. The name of the game is to get through it as fast as possible. In other words, pick your favorite route with interstates the whole way. South-central and Southwestern Minnesota, same thing.

You really have to get to South Dakota to see some country that's interesting.

[jmgg]

Originally Posted by Star691

Recommend taking I-80 to I-380 to Rt 20 to I-29 to I-90. That stretch of I-90 between Albert Lea and Sioux Falls is as about as dull as dull can get. You would also avoid Des Moines traffic, and could even stop by the Hard Rock in Sioux City if you have time.

Save your money and the time spent. Very over-rated. As much as it was hyped when this was being built, It was pretty disappointing when I went to it.

The most exciting part of driving through Sioux City is to try and guess where they've place their speed trap cameras.

[Star691]

Originally Posted by jmgg

Save your money and the time spent. Very over-rated. As much as it was hyped when this was being built, It was pretty disappointing when I went to it.

The most exciting part of driving through Sioux City is to try and guess where they've place their speed trap cameras.

Who knows, they might want to see the famed rock star memorabilia they have on display at the Hard Rock. That’s funny about the speed cameras!

[rayman29]

Originally Posted by jmgg

Save your money and the time spent. Very over-rated. As much as it was hyped when this was being built, It was pretty disappointing when I went to it.

The most exciting part of driving through Sioux City is to try and guess where they've place their speed trap cameras.

That’s not an issue if you just go the speed limit! Do you think security cameras at banks are a robbery trap, or security cameras at stores are a shoplifting trap? If you obey the law, you don’t have to worry about the consequences of breaking it.