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.

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.

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.

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.

This truck stop lives up to its billing of being the World's Largest Truck Stop. This place is huge…read moreand amazing. You can get gas here. Then inside is like a mini-mall. They have a food court with a Dairy Queen/Orange Julius, Wendy's, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut Express, all with seating. They also have a truck parts store, tourist souvenirs, convenience store items, clothes, and custom truck parts. The place was really clean, especially considering how many people go through there. You will find an actual tractor-trailer truck in the auto parts section of the truck stop. There are a lot of photo ops here at the truck stop, including the tractor-trailers and other vehicles inside, and murals and antique gas pumps outside. There is also a truck museum across the parking lot that is free to visit, but is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. I came here on a Monday, so of course it was closed. If you are coming into or leaving Iowa, this is a must-stop. This place is amazing and has just about everything. The staff there was very friendly too. I am glad I made the stop here, and I did not even need gas.

We were in need of a pit stop on a road trip and wanted to stop at our favorite place. Like an…read moreoasis in the desert the billboard signs began to appear and soon enough we had arrived! This place has everything. Gift shops, a sit down restaurant, a truckers museum, showers, a barber, chiropractor, dentist, and laundry. In addition, there are several fast food spots in the food court like Wendy's, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, Starbucks, plus rows of supermarket fares. This is a great place to take a load off and walk around to break up your road trip.

Stop for gas and Go inside -They offer a Free coffee and free donut after 4pm. Lovely offerread more

Great service pizza is hot and good for a quick bit in the go, there's a white lady with a country…read moreaccent that's has great service

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.

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.

Long Hollow Scenic Overlook is both overlook and rest stop…read more For the rest stop, they have bathrooms, plenty of parking, picnic areas, and scenic places to sit outdoors and enjoy some fresh air and reprieve from the road. They even have bench swings to leisure on. The scenic overlook is best accessed close to the entry. It offers a stunning view of rolling hills and tree dotted farmlands. It is seriously stunning and serene. We spent longer than we thought we might, simply gazing at the landscape, listening to the birds, and breathing in the fresh, country air. Definitely worth the stop if you're in the area. Get to it!

Closed at 8pm, very out of the way off highway, do not come here. Nice view of the Mississippi…read moreRiver at least.

Let's not only refer to this as a Rest Stop, but also as a destination. This is an excellent…read moreplace for Quad-City residents to give their out-of-town guests an eagle-eye view of the Mississippi River The stop not only has restrooms, but there are multiple picnic tables, a playground area, car and RV parking and that picture-perfect overlook area to stand and take a moment to watch the Mighty Mississippi as she winds her way southward.