The rest stops off of I-80 in Iowa are gorgeous. Many rest areas in other states are treated as…read moreutilitarian buildings, however this one elevates it to a work of art. The building is themed as a tribute to century farms in the area, with it being shaped as a clerestory window barn. However, it builds on the design with an open concept with natural lighting, which let the bright early autumn sunlight to filter through into the building. The roof is supported by glulam framing which adds to the natural, warm feeling that the space gives off. In the back, there's a room that has all glass walls, providing views of the forested area in the back with a trail. Around the building there are picnic tables and a pet relief area. The bathroom themselves were sparkling clean!

Clean clean clean! Modern facilities, look brand new. So well maintained! Excellent facility. Best…read moreroadside rest stop you will find.

What do you hope for when you stop at a rest stop along the interstate? For me, it's usually a…read moreclean and safe restroom, a place to refill the water bottles, and, sometimes, a picnic area to take a needed break from the many hours of driving. That's what I was hoping for when we stopped at the Tiffin Rest Area on I-80 eastbound through Iowa, just before exit 237. (Sept, 2024). What I wasn't expecting though was a literary experience. The first hint is the giant fountain pen nib with the words "the beautiful land" in front of the building, and also visible from the Highway. Then, there are sidewalk lights that are shaped like pencils with erasers. But, my favorite was the picnic area, where picnic tables were protected by individual walls/screens with excerpts from literature by Iowan writers. We needed to get back on the road but I found myself wondering from picnic table to picnic table to read all of the quotes! Oh, and yes, the restroom building was well-maintained, clean, and felt safe. Access on/off the interstate was easy, and parking was plentiful. Well done Iowa!

Very clean and wondetfully crafted. The theme was writers and writing and it is just a nice place…read moreto stop and take a break on long journeys.

This is one of the cleanest rest stops I've ever been to! We're on the road a lot because we have…read morefamily and friends that live all over the country so finding nice rest stops along the way are our little wins. The bathroom is so well kept and huge. There's also a bunch of places to hangout outside under large trees if you want the shade. From covered picnic tables to places specially for your pets, this rest stop has a little bit of everything for everyone. There was someone even in a hammock just chillin' between two trees, perfectly unbothered. There was plenty of parking both for cars and trucks. There were also a ton of maps both state and local as well as various guides for food, attractions, and entertainment. We'll definitely be keeping this location in mind the next time we're heading to Iowa or on the same route.

This is one of a new generation Iowa rest area. This Westbound rest area was Completed in January…read more2001 on I-80 at mile post 240. With the home of the ACT organization located in Johnson County, and with Iowa students scoring among the highest in the country on the most common entrance exams to college. Education theme was a perfect fit for this rest area. They have larger picnic shelters that have features similar to an old school house. As you can see the foundation is building blocks with pictures on them. The 2nd roof looks like it could house the school bell. Stacks of books with history of trucking, Iowa Artists, and others look like pillars that support the front of the rest area. You can see they have a masonry leage that goes around the building to look like one long book shelve, with books sitting on it. With there bindings showing classic literary works, and other great books. Every where you look you have planters and lighting features that look like oversize children's building blocks. Inside there is also some art work inside that you can view. Another important story is the Amana Colonies that settled in this area. They had a unique brotherhood was founded in Germany. Oppressive government at the time forced them to seek a new home in this great land of America. Around 1,500 people lived in 7 villages and owning 25,000 acres in Iowa. They have a great story to tell but will save that for another video. They had a huge impact on Iowa, and we all could learn a few things. It might be the smartest county in Iowa since it has the University of Iowa in it. It also held the first territorial capitol of the state located in Iowa City on the grounds of the University. This rest area has a little trail that has various grasses and wildflowers that are native to the prairies. 3 boy Scouts panned and planted this area so you could see what the early settlers seen when they crossed the prairies of Iowa. Some of the other rest area videos will talk about a little about some of the travelers, that has crossed by them over the years. Thank-you for all your comments and viewing the video. I have other videos I would like you to view.

It seems unusual, if not downright odd, to write a review of an Interstate Highway rest area, but…read morethis is a unique case. It's located on the northbound side of I-380, a spur from I-80 that begins in Iowa City, passes through Cedar Rapids and terminates in Waterloo. This is the only rest area on the 73 mile spur. (There is a southbound rest area across the freeway.) Prior to the opening of this facility, there was a woefully inadequate building serving the rest area. The entire property has been refreshed with the centerpiece being this new building, a standardized Iowa DOT design, that opened in the fall of 2012. New picnic areas and several interesting pieces of decor make the grounds comfortable and attractive. It's the decor that makes this rest area unique and interesting. Eastern Iowa is Grant Wood territory and this entire rest area is designed around the life and work of Iowa's most famous artist. Wood was born about 40 miles northeast of here in 1891. His family moved to Cedar Rapids in 1901. Wood took an apprenticeship in metalwork, attended an art school in Minneapolis and enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1924, he returned to Cedar Rapids and rented a loft. It had no address, so he named it "5 Turner Alley" which is commemorated here, on the east wall of the building. Wood also helped found an art colony in Stone City, where students lived in ice wagons. Picnic tables are framed by wire frame wagon structures to commemorate the living quarters of artists in Stone City. Other features of the rest area that pay homage to Wood include the window frames that are modeled after the house windows in his painting, "American Gothic." The windows are lit with LEDs that change colors at night. The Iowa state quarter is represented in the east entryway - the quarter also pays homage to Wood and his influence on the Iowa art scene. The colorful terrazzo floor mural depicts rows of Iowa farm crops and blends into the rest room vestibules. The vestibules feature Grant paintings, transcribed to ceramic tile, continuing the theme. A small plaque depicts his most famous painting, "American Gothic" and tells the story of the painting and how it came to reside in the museum at the Art Institute of Chicago. The Northbound Rest Area, at mile marker 12 on I-380, is more than a common rest area, it's a living museum of Iowa and it's most beloved artist. EDITED TO ADD: The American Gothic House is located in Eldon, Iowa, about 2 hours southwest of here. It has its own Yelp listing with several reviews and is worth looking up on Yelp, even if you're not going to visit.

Very limited parking for truckers but overall still a nice and convenient rest stop. Clean…read morerestrooms and vending machines. Picnic tables with overhead roofs and plenty of art displays around the outside of this rest stop.

I would give this place a five star review, but if you're walking your dog in the designated pet…read morearea, watch out for 2-3 foot deep water. Because my dog is soaked and my feet as well! Grass is about 8 inches long in the "mowed areas" so make sure you have your rain boots on when walking any where but the cement!

Nice clean rest stop great place to walk the dog and even a park for the kids.free Wi-Fi and lots…read moreof vending machines you going to place to have a picnic.

We stopped here to charge our electric vehicle while passing through. The chargers are not well…read moremaintained and onw was fully out of service and not working which was a bummer. The interior is a little disorganized and dirty, but not disgusting.

If I could give more stars I would ! Stellar crew everyone of them are amazing . We parked our rv…read morethere and got a tornado warning to seek shelter immediately. They took my wife and I and our dog and cat in to seek shelter till the danger passed. Treated us like family, well done Pilot!

4 star for me but hey, zi have in the ditch. Maybe in a rebuilding phase¿. Lots of hawt water…read more No hot tub and well, good sleep. Best of luck to owners, hope next year brings great fortune for your family . Oh no tea yet but kum & go has tea bags and no hot water u got this!

Skip this place Website says full breakfast don't believe…read moreit...it was continental Not much of a selection and they don't refill it often Carpet dirty in the lobby Toilet rocks in the bathroom Air conditioning was so-so and windows were open in our room before we got in there on a 95 degree day so was warm in there Couch in the suite was dirty Dining area air conditioning was so-so The hosts were pretty nice so it's too bad..

Great people, good food at great prices, and a decent variety. What more could you ask for?read more

I LOVE Native Americans welcomes and hospitality! This is a new stop for me going back and forth…read morebetween Cedar Rapids & De Moines. Its an excellent stop, rest, revive, eat, snack and stretch location! Just do it!!!!

Back in my University days, this is the Motel 6 that my frugal parents would stay when visiting me…read more It was clean, inexpensive, close to I-80, and there was a Perkin's next door. And it wasn't far from the time when the 6 in Motel meant how much a night's stay cost. This place is still OK, but if I want safe, basic, and relatively cheap there are other choices within Greater Iowa City. I personally like the Iowa House near Campus, which also take me away from the Coralville Strip and into some Townie civilization.

Road trips lower your standards for just about everything…read more Disgusting rest stop restroom, doesn't matter. Soiled motel sheets, at least they're dry. Diet? Doesn't exist. Fast food? Par for the course. Given my current lack of standards, the first thing I want is to roll my hog into a motel parking spot. It's that or passing out in a barn on a mound of hay with a bottle of whiskey hanging out the side of my mouth. Hey, this is Iowa! I actually try to satisfy the latter but nothing turns up. So, Motel 6 it is. Just as hoped, there's a parking spot directly in front of the door to our room. Good! Forget luxury, I embrace and salute this cross-country spirit! Who needs 400 thread count?! I make my triumphant entrance into our glorious room and I have an out of body experience drowning in a scent akin to air conditioning filtered through asshole. It's okay! This is perfect! Giles loves it. He tastes the toilet water. Delicious! Ferry loves it. "Just like the scene in No Country For Old Men! ...minus the shotgun... maybe." Cheap TV - check. Dirty carpet - check. Beer bottle opener attached to sink - check. Holy bible - check. Needless to say, everything checks out. It isn't until I lift the sheet when I realize I just can't. No! I won't sleep on these covers. I won't nuzzle into putrid polyester! I won't. Even still, I don't leave. I run to the car, grab my comforter and settle back into bed. As I survey the parking lot from my perch along the door frame, I smile with the slow realization that there are no cars older than 2000 to be seen. So it looks like each of our traveling companions may be in the same boat, nay, car as us. Hold that thought... that's a gunshot!

A bit of a change up in the buffet! No more Sunday evening…read morebuffet in Feb 2026. But they have added Wednesday lunch and evening buffet! No theme yet for Wednesday as of the 11 Feb 2026... But if they do it as an American night that could go over well! I wish they had the buffet like back in 2000. 24 hours a day 7 days a week. loved the red eye buffet that 11pm to 4 am buffet hit the spot when traveling.

I sat at blackjack for 5 hrs playing 15 to 25 hand was told I could get Casinto rate 70 bucks a…read morenight they wouldn't honor this charged 150 a night casino host told me he would take care of it the disappeared pit boss said we don't do anything for table game players only slot! what a joke!! obviously they don't value table games players I'll donate my money elsewhere!!!!