Good stop for a bathroom break, picnic spot or to get a snack. Very clean restrooms. Hooks inside stalls for personal items. Diaper station in ladies room. Seperate family bathroom. Restroom is mostly automated (toilet did not self flush but was designed to do so). Hand dryers, no paper towels. Inside are vending machines, information on the local geology, charge stations and water fountains. A separate inside area has a photo gallery and some State info brochures. Outside are pathways around the building through lush lawns with both covered and uncovered picnic tables and gardens. A sculpture by the entrance represents the step formations of the local area. Good amount of parking for all vehicle types. read more

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Was very happy with my quick stop here for many reasons. One I am sure you can imagine on your own. Others include: It was clean It was brightly lit It was warm and most of all... IT HAD FREE WIRELESS. Bravo to the Iowa DOT for providing wireless access at ALL their rest areas. This is Brilliant. read more

Tourist Interstate Info Center - Travel Services Near Me - Underwood, Iowa

This rest area is located on I-80 eastbound at milepost 19 in Iowa. Completed in November 2007 this rest area is part of the Iowa's New Generation of Rest Areas. This rest area gets its inspiration from the rare environment that surrounds this location. Loess Hills has a German meaning loose or crumbly. The hills in this area were built with the help of the westerly winds that blew across the Missouri River flood plains picking up glacial silt left behind form the last ice age. Glacial silt was deposited by the wind with out much clay particles. By not having much clay in the soil, the water drainage can support plants like the buffalo berry, Loess Hills fern, soap-weed and skeleton-weed. Found on the brick that appears as a continuous patterned band around the Rest Area building is the image of a Yucca plant. The main art sculptures at the entrance symbolize "sections" or contours in the landscape, made of metal, and top part of it lights up at night. As you walk around the rest area you will find other art that has curves found in it. As you travel along this rest area, let it remind you of the past people that has traveled it in the past. Lewis and Clark led there expedition though here, then it became to be part of the Mormon Trail. The Native Americans considered this area to be a sacred place. Thousands of people traveled this way on their westward journey to get on a steamboat to the up the Missouri River. These people where headed for the Oregon and California trails, and some to the western gold fields. Later on Council Bluffs became a hub for the railroad Industry. You had Union Pacific R.R that started it's line in Council Bluffs to meet Central Pacific R.R in Utah to become the the first transcontinental railroad in the United States. This rest area has Wi-fi internet that you can use, pay telephone if you need to use it. Outside you can use charcoal grills to cook your food, and use the picnic shelters to eat under. And if you see my friend the grasshopper mouse, be nice to him. These mice are very helpful in keeping the insects population down. Did you know they will often kill and eat other mice that you see in your house. They also eat centipedes, scorpions, and snakes. Prirty handy to have around, don't be alarmed if you hear a"howling" like a small wolf, they will let you know that they are there. Thank-you for all your comments and viewing the video. I have other videos I would like you to view. read more

Tourist Interstate Info Center - https://youtu.be/9nGFVSxFhug - Travel Services Near Me - Underwood, Iowa

Pulled over for the night to catch some sleep. Clean restroom, spacious parking and free wifi. They even had a dog exercise area. A bit disappointed in the lack of free weights in aforementioned exercise area. My labrador really wanted to get his swoll patrol on. Hi-5 Iowa DOT. read more