Cross-Country Motorcycle Trip – Part 2: Iowa
Welcome to Part 2 of our 18-day cross-country motorcycle trip on a Honda Goldwing from Annapolis, Maryland, to Seattle, Washington. The trip took place at the end of August. If you want to start at the beginning, see Part 1.
We reached Iowa on day four and quickly realized “Iowa Nice” was real. Expect to spend an extra 5 minutes at any gas station or rest stop. Be prepared for a lot of corn and wind. We were constantly fighting the wind through the Midwest.
Cross Country Motorcycle Trip Google Map
Day 4: Champaign, IL to Davenport, IA
Miles: 200
Ride Time (Not including stops): 4.5 hours
We detoured to Davenport, IA, for one reason: I wanted to see Iowa 80, the World’s Biggest Truckstop. You could skip Davenport altogether to save some time, but how do you do a cross-country motorcycle trip and not stop?
We skipped I-74 and rode up US-150 toward Bloomington, IL. We stopped at Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz’s Grave and Statue. I love quirky roadside attractions. The statue was in an actual cemetery. Riding a motorcycle up to and through a graveyard felt strange, but we were not the first with the way the groundskeepers didn’t give us a sideways glance.
After Bloomington, we finally moved away from the interstate. We continued on US-150 up to Peoria, IL, got on IL-29 and started following the Illinois River. We stopped for lunch at the Moon Tower Bar in Chillicothe, IL. Cliff gets credit for this random find. It is your typical biker bar but sitting on the Illinois River. The view is impressive, the food is good, and the beer is cheap. It was a perfect lunch spot on our trip. We continued along Route 29 as long as we could before we headed west to Davenport, IA.
We had to drive through downtown Davenport to our hotel, the Baymont by Wyndham, but it placed us only a few miles from tomorrow’s stop at Iowa 80. The bright blue building was down a dead-end side street, and the area appeared rundown but was clean. No one bothered the bike, plus we could see it from our room.
Where to Eat/Sleep/Stop:
Moon Tower Bar (Chillicothe, IL) https://www.themoontowerbar.com/
Baymont (Days Inn) by Wyndham (Davenport, IA)
Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz’s Grave and Statue (Bloomington, IL)
Day 5: Davenport, IA, to Winterset, IA
Miles: 200
Ride Time (Not including stops): 4 hours
We started the day at the World’s Biggest Truckstop: Iowa 80. We didn’t realize it, but we spent 3 hours there, so be prepared. Make sure to check out the Truck Museum. We exited Iowa 80 onto US-61 S and headed toward Columbus Junction, IA, before heading west on IA-92 to Winterset, IA. We stopped at the Swinging Bridge Park to get out of the sun. It was a perfect way to stretch the legs and is very shaded, but they do not have bathrooms but have picnic tables if you want to bring lunch.
We stopped in Winterset, IA, and stayed at the Cobblestone Inn and Suites. It was a small hotel that felt family-run. There was a small bar with complimentary breakfast, and they had laundry. Plus, since we had a first-floor room, we could park the motorcycle right near the room. Although the hotel was on IA-92, it was a short walk from Winterset’s downtown area to get food.
Where to Eat/Sleep/Stop:
Iowa 80 Truckstop (Walcott, IA)
Swinging Bridge Park (Columbus Junction, IA)
Cobblestone Inn and Suites (Winterset, IA)
Day 6 and 7: Winterset, IA to Le Mars, IA
Miles: 200
Ride Time (Not including stops): 3.5 hours
We wove our way northwest to Le Mars, IA, where we planned to stay for two nights. We stopped at the Templeton Distillery. Even though Cliff couldn’t enjoy the whiskey, the area was beautiful and a nice place to stretch our legs. We stopped in Carroll, IA, for lunch, then took US-71 to Sac City, IA.
Sac City, IA, is a small town with quirky stops, making it a great place to stretch your legs. We passed a vintage gas station collection and pulled over a few miles up the road at the World’s Biggest Popcorn Ball. There is a small park behind it where you can walk around, plus it is right across from a gas station.
We stayed in Le Mar’s for two nights. I highly recommend planning a few 2-day stops on the trip. You might not think you need it, but riding all day, especially in the wind, can be tiring after a while. Le Mars is a small town in Iowa that happens to be the Ice Cream Capital of the world. We stayed at the Inn on Central. The six guest rooms are above an art studio and have private parking behind the hotel. It has a kitchenette with a fridge and a grocery store next door if you are sick of restaurant food. It was also an opportunity to do some much-needed laundry. Check out Iowa BBQ Company for fantastic BBQ. Then, get a beer at Wise I Brewing. Check out their food truck schedule. A food truck served tasty Thai food the day we were there.
Where to Eat/Sleep/Stop:
Wasted Grain (Carroll, IA)
Vintage Gas Station and Sign Memorabilia (Sac City, IA) – 620 E Main St, Sac City, IA 50583
World’s Largest Popcorn Ball (Sac City, IA)
Templeton Distillery (Templeton, IA)
Inn on Central (Le Mars, IA)
Iowa BBQ Company (Le Mars, IA)
Wise I Brewing (Le Mars, IA)
Start at the beginning with Part 1. Remember to check out our Google Map for our exact route and stops.
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