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Highest-rated free things to do in Iowa by visitors

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Josep Suria // Shutterstock
Josep Suria // Shutterstock
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Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Iowa.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Iowa using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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#29. Freight House Farmers Market

Tripadvisor

2 / 30

#29. Freight House Farmers Market

- Rating: 4.7/5 (77 reviews)
- City: Davenport
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#25. Vander Veer Botanical Park

Tripadvisor

6 / 30

#25. Vander Veer Botanical Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (185 reviews)
- City: Davenport
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. Union Pacific Railroad Museum

Tripadvisor

11 / 30

#20. Union Pacific Railroad Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (314 reviews)
- City: Council Bluffs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

Tripadvisor

12 / 30

#19. Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

- Rating: 4.6/5 (301 reviews)
- City: Sioux City
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Devonian Fossil Gorge

Tripadvisor

16 / 30

#15. Devonian Fossil Gorge

- Rating: 4.3/5 (157 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

Tripadvisor

17 / 30

#14. Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

- Rating: 4.7/5 (282 reviews)
- City: Dubuque
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. Plane Crash Site of Buddy Holly

Tripadvisor

19 / 30

#12. Plane Crash Site of Buddy Holly

- Rating: 4.4/5 (297 reviews)
- City: Clear Lake
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Mines of Spain Recreation Area

Tripadvisor

22 / 30

#9. Mines of Spain Recreation Area

- Rating: 4.6/5 (255 reviews)
- City: Dubuque
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. Maquoketa Caves State Park

Tripadvisor

29 / 30

#2. Maquoketa Caves State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (247 reviews)
- City: Maquoketa
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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