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Des Moines Outdoors

Des Moines Outdoors

Things to Do in Winterset, Iowa: A Fun Day Trip to A Historic Town

DSMOutdoors

Covered Bridge
Cutler Donahoe Covered Bridge

Winterset is a quaint Iowa community with many fun and unique things to do! The great thing is, it’s only 40 minutes southwest of Des Moines and makes a great day trip. 

While you’re there, see the famous covered bridges, tour the museums, and take in the views from Clark Tower. You can also shop at the town square, taste a local cider or wine, and attend an event. There’s no shortage of fun things to do in Winterset, Iowa!

Things to Do in Winterset, Iowa

Start at the Madison County Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center website. There you’ll find everything you ever wanted to know about the area, complete with itineraries, guides, and more!

Visit the Covered Bridges

The historic covered bridges near Winterset draw visitors from all around! Madison County has the most remaining covered bridges west of the Mississippi. And five of the six remaining bridges in the area are on the National Register of Historic Places. Don’t miss the annual Covered Bridge Festival each fall. The celebration centers on local history, complete with activities, vendors, and competitions. 

Also, the 1992 book (and 1995 movie), The Bridges of Madison County, made the covered bridges even more famous. If you’re a fan, you might want to see the abandoned farmhouse from the movie. Francesca’s house suffered fire damage and is closed to visitors, but you can drive by (3255 130th Street, Cumming, IA 50061).

Covered Bridges in Madison County
  • Cutler-Donahoe Covered Bridge (Winterset City Park, access via pavement)
  • Imes Covered Bridge (St. Charles, access via pavement)
  • Cedar Covered Bridge (rural Winterset, access via pavement and some gravel)
  • Roseman Covered Bridge (rural Winterset, access via gravel)
  • Holliwell Covered Bridge (rural Winterset, access via gravel)
  • Hogback Covered Bridge (rural Winterset, access via gravel)

For details on each bridge and a map of the bridges, see the Chamber of Commerce website. 

Clark Tower
Clark Tower in Winterset City Park

Spend the Day at a Local Park

The Winterset area has several excellent parks in and around town!

Winterset City Park & Clark Tower

The Winterset City Park is a unique 76-acre park with a covered bridge, limestone tower, maze, and more! And the views from Clark Tower go on for miles.

Middle River Park 

This 80-acre park is just south of Winterset City Park. It has picnic areas and a paved, accessible trail.

Pammel State Park

This unique 350-acre park is 8 miles southwest of Winterset. Go camping or rent a yurt there! Hike the backbone trail (on a limestone ridge!), float the river, and go fishing there too.

Fellowship Forest

This 60-acre park is 7 miles southwest of Winterset, near Pammel State Park. Fish at the accessible fishing pier, have a picnic, or stroll the one-mile loop trail around the park! 

Criss Cove County Park

This 45-acre recreation area is 10 miles south of Winterset. Go fishing in the 9-acre pond and camp at the campground (RV and tent sites).

Clanton Creek Recreation Area

Clanton Creek is a large, 1115-acre natural area 15 miles south of Winterset. Hike on 10 miles of trails, or go hunting and fishing. The area contains native remnants of prairie, wetlands, and savanna oak.

Picnic Shelter at Middle River Park
Picnic shelter at Middle River Park

Tour the Museums

John Wayne Birthplace & Museum

People from all around the world have visited John Wayne’s Birthplace. The museum has an extensive collection of John Wayne relics, including one of his cars! And you won’t want to leave without stopping at his birthplace home. 

Iowa Quilt Museum

The Iowa Quilt Museum is on the south side of the historic town square. They feature collections of unique, historic, and modern quilts. And the great thing is, the exhibits change periodically, so you can see new quilts every time you go. 

Madison County Historical Complex

Tour the 1856 Bevington-Kaser Mansion and 13 more historic buildings on 18-acres. Also, you can see many exhibits at the museum, including Native American artifacts, rocks & fossils, farm equipment, and more.

For more museums, see the Madison County Chamber of Commerce website.

John Wayne Birthplace Museum
John Wayne Birthplace Museum
Quilt Museum
Photo: Iowa Quilt Museum website)

Sip a Local Drink

There are several quaint places to eat and drink in and around town! And here are some favorites you won’t want to miss.

Winterset Cidery

The Winterset Cidery offers a unique offering of craft hard apple cider! They like to keep their cider as natural as possible for an excellent, fresh taste. If that wasn’t enough, they offer a lineup of concerts and events.

Covered Bridges Winery

The Covered Bridges Winery uses Iowa grapes to make their award-winning local wine. So stop in for a taste, and take home a bottle or two! Or make it a date and attend one of their events. 

Places to Stay

Winterset City Park Campground

The Winterset City Campground offers a super convenient place to stay. It’s next to the Winterset City Park and has tent and full hookup RV sites.

Cobblestone Inn & Suites

The Cobblestone Inn is off Highway 92. It offers complimentary breakfast, Wifi, and a fitness center. And for an extra fee, dogs are welcome.

Covered Bridge Inn

The Covered Bridge Inn is near Cedar Bridge, has affordable rates, free breakfast, and Wifi. See their website for more information or to make reservations. 

Winterset City Park Campground
Winterset City Park Campground

Town Square Shopping

There are several quaint shops to browse while you’re in town! Here are a few to check out around the town square:

  • Heartland Fiber Co. & Gifts (they offer classes too)
  • White Cottage Market
  • 1st Avenue Collective
  • The Finishing Touch (& Rhapsody Rose Floral)
  • Piece Works Quilt Shop

Visit Winterset, Iowa Today!

Directions to Winterset, Iowa

It’s about a 40-minute drive from Des Moines:

  • Take I-80 west to Hwy 169 South (Exit 110). Head south 15 miles to Winterset. 
  • Or, take I-35 south to IA 92 West (Exit 56/Bevington). Head west for 13 miles to Winterset.

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About Des Moines Outdoors

Des Moines Outdoors is a site dedicated to helping you find the best of everything outdoors in the state of Iowa. We’re native Iowans that, for over 25 years, camped, hiked, biked, and explored our home state. We encourage you to do the same.

There’s so much more to see and do in Iowa than many people imagine! Our goal is to help visitors and residents alike experience the best of our beautiful state.

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