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.

My family and I, and our two dogs, travel back and forth across the country along the I-80 corridor…read moreannually, and we thought we were familiar with every rest stop between Salt Lake City and Chicago, but today turned out to be our first visit to the Tiffin rest stop. It was very clean, offered several snack options in the onsite vending machines, and the outside grounds were lovely. The poetry and prose inspired theme was apparent throughout the grounds from the picnic areas to the facilities building. There are several quotes from famous writers enshrined at the site and a variety of plaques with historic lessons--a little learning opportunity off the well-beaten I-80 path. Save yourself a visit to a filthy gas station bathroom and check out this inspired alternative instead. It's definitely worth it.

Great rest spot with a lot of nice artwork and well designed building with a lot of mural quotes,…read morethe restrooms are definitely clean and well maintained, they have picnic tables with shades from the sun and a area to walk your dog.

Iowa has an amazing set of rest areas along I-80, most featuring particular aspects of the state,…read moregeologically, geographically, economically, environmentally. The park-like area outdoors includes sculptures and displays relevant to the theme, and indoors there are custom handmade tiles on floors and walls immersing you further in the theme. I'm sure most folks just rush in to use the toilets and don't notice. There is also free WiFi so you can use your phone or laptop, altho there is a time limit.

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 rest stop along I-80 certainly stands out from the pack. Why, you ask?…read more 1.) the lovely facade was covered with quilt square artwork 2.) they offer an abundance of covered picnic benches and a small walking trail space (ideal if you have your pup with you on the road) 3.) very clean indoor space and bathrooms accompanied by several maps on display in the foyer (you got me ) 4.) ample parking for both cars and semis/trailers

Very nice rest area with plenty of truck parking, clean restrooms and vending machines with free…read moreWIFI available. Plenty of open space behind the facility with a few picnic tables. Perfect spot to take a break from them long hours of driving.

Loved this rest stop!…read more Clean, safe, and convenient. The Pac-Man theme is pretty cool here and a nice surprise. I couldn't help but think someone's wish came true when they made marketing materials with a pac-man theme at an Iowa rest stop and it caught me off-guard (in the best way) when I had been driving for HOURS! I mean seriously, who looks at the walls of a rest stop? ME! I did when I saw pac-man! :) The restrooms were clean and everything was in good working order!

Very clean and well maintained the grounds as well as inside seems like a very safe area and well…read morelit

Clean! Spacious! Excellent rest area! This is the place to…read morestop while on your drive!!!!

Okay, I was so excited to see, not just vending machines, but a dedicated vending machine room. I…read moregot Linda to pull up right in front, grabbed RWBY (you can say Ruby) and was ready to enjoy the vend. We had a bunch of loose change. Why "loose?" Anyway, I was able to purchase three bottles of water before moving on to the snack-based machine. I'm gluten free (wheat gives me a stomach ache) so I was really happy to see a Health Bar. Chocolate. Toffee. English? Awesome. I put in my $1.25 (see exhibit 1 photo below for price corroboration) and pressed 5-0. The display (as evidenced in photo 2) demanded an additional $.50. And I was out of change, loose or otherwise. A moment of non-rest. Until I realized I could hit the cancel button, get my change back and use my iPhone -- moments later, snack in hand. Could have been five stars Hartford Rest Area. Sorry, got to keep you honest.

Fairly nice and all around clean rest area with plenty of truck parking as well as for cars too…read more The restrooms are very clean and well maintained plus they have vending machines inside as well. Plenty of picnic tables outside all around the facility.

I really needed to pee and presto a rest area appears. At that point it could have been a…read moreport-a-potty and I would have been happy. This rest stop was surprisingly clean. There were vending machines and local info in the lobby. When traveling through Iowa, this would be a very good place to stop when you need to really pee.

Great stop for a nice view, stretch your legs and a quick bathroom break…read more Had a quick snack sitting on one of their picnic bench's.

This overlook buries the lede: It's not just, or primarily, a scenic overlook, but a large rest…read morearea. That was unexpected! Honestly it's really weird highway marketing. The "scenic outlook" part of it is the drive from the freeway to the rest area. And it is a beautiful vista to be sure, but... there's not really any place to pull aside and look at it. When I've encountered scenic overlooks in Oregon, or when I was in North Carolina near the Blue Ridge Mountains, there was a part of the road set aside with the explicit purpose of folks pulling over to look. Here, you can look as you're driving along but once you get to the parking you can't see anything. There are nearly a dozen picnic tables scattered about the place, some more secluded than others. There's also a garden, which has a couple of bench swings to sit and enjoy the surroundings a bit.

Nature trail attached. Lots of shaded benches and picnic tables. They even have a small grill next…read moreto some of the tables. Vending machines available inside as well. There are a couple of charging stations inside if you need to charge phones or tablets. The restrooms have plenty of stalls and sinks. Beautifully maintained inside and out! Perfect place for a family stop or even if you're by yourself!

This rest area is very nice and well maintained with clean restrooms. They also have vending…read moremachines as well as picnic tables on the outside and a very nice open area to walk around. Plenty of overnight truck parking available at this area.

I come to the University of Iowa twice a year to participate in an Alumni Advisory Board with the…read moreCollege of Engineering. We meet for dinner on a Thursday night and then participate in an all day meeting on Friday. I have found my entire volunteer effort to be rewarding and am grateful for this modest opportunity to give back to the College that was such a key piece of my long career. I'm happy to make the long trip from Northern Nevada, but there are expenses to consider. In particular, hotel space during the recent Homecoming weekend was both sparse and expensive. I planned for this by making my reservation (almost a year in advance) further away from Iowa City towards Cedar Rapids. At the time, the Hotel with the best combination of proximity (maybe 30 minutes away) and price was this Residence Inn by Marriott. The Hotel was easily accessible off (and on) the 33rd Avenue exit off I-380, with easy parking, and short drives to various dining options. I found the Lobby/Breakfast area to be comfortable and welcoming. The free hot breakfast was also more diverse and interesting than I've come to expect. During my 3-night stay, it was clear that other Hawkeye fans had the same idea, although we were in the minority to the various trades guest who were staying here. My room was very spacious and relaxing. I appreciated the division between bedroom and Livingroom, and a nice Kitchen. The showers were strong and hot, and with good Wi-Fi. My only quibbles were that the Livingroom was a little dark (even when fully lit) and I should have asked for maid service at least once within my 3-day stay. I'll be back in the Iowa City area next April and October. Room availability will probably be easier in Iowa City next Spring, but you just might find me here for the next Homecoming. Go Hawks!

Consider yourself warned…read more I have traveled my whole career, and I have never experienced a Marriott property that is so poorly maintained and in need of an update. The furniture is ripped, the carpet is ripped, the furniture is sinking in, and there are bugs in the rooms. I cannot believe that Marriott is allowing this property to continue with its name. I travel to Cedar Rapids frequently, and I would drive 30 to 45 miles to another property or another brand before I would recommend this property. That said, my experience with the staff was very positive. They are a delight to work with, and I feel bad that they have to work in such a poorly maintained facility.