Top of Iowa Welcome Center

Top of Iowa is the last rest stop in Iowa on northbound I-35. Look for the big red barn. Lots of parking, including for trucks, as the lot is part of parking for the casino across the street. Walk your dog on the grass. Inside, the restrooms are on the lower level with the vending machines. Everything is spotless. Upstairs are travel materials and maps. There is also an attendant who wants you to sign the guest book. I resist this as it seems like a data grab. Otherwise this is a nice place.

This is a lovely barn-style welcome center with a gentle garden path around the back with some nice monuments to WWII vets, women service members and some other individuals notable in Iowa’s history.

Worth a stop just to stretch your legs or even just to admire the Iowa farm architecture.

The facilities are just bathrooms and vending machines.

If you don’t want to stretch your legs or learn anything about Iowa then you can keep going.

Wonderful rest stop when traveling. Has plenty of information a out the entire state of Iowa and thing to do. Has a nice little gift shop and snack bar upstairs. Restrooms are well kept and the ease of access to driving conditions is nice too. Has plenty of room outside to stretch legs, have lunch, walk pets and go for a walk yourself.

Perhaps, the best rest area in Iowa!

What a great rest area. The building exterior is a barn construction with modern rest area inside...There are vending machines as well and picnic tables to enjoy a nice family meal. Being that this is a welcome center rest area for the state, there is an upstairs showcasing many pamphlets of all that Iowa has to offer in addition to a lovely gift shop. The welcome staff upstairs are Iowa Nice :).

I like that they have lots of information on things to do across Iowa. It is also a pleasant spacious building.

Love this Rest Stop and have been here MANY, MANY TIMES over the past 13 years. Easy parking, clean bathroom facilities, lots of vending machines, nice INFORMATION AREA with helpful volunteers. Always my favorite place to stop heading south from northern Minnesota to KCMO, and beyond. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

The Top of Iowa Welcome Center is a fantastic place to stop and get out, stretch, and learn a bit about Iowa history as well. The facilities are clean and inviting, the grounds are well-kept and spacious, and parking is ample.

It is always nice to find a gem like this to make traveling a bit more comfortable. Rest stops are each unique, for better or worse, and this is one with a uniqueness that shines. ☀️

Good place for a break clean bathrooms. Gift shop on the second floor.

Friendly staff. Lots of informational brochures. Small gift shop.

rest area is good and clean. has clean and best rest rooms in iowa. has coffee store inside the area. visiting center is a two store building and just beside a casino. very big parking space for cars and trucks. has kind of kids park. feel please all around the area with give kin of information about the iowa and its surroundings