The Waukee Brief
One of the underrated perks of living in central Iowa: you're within a tank of gas of Dutch windmills, river bluffs, glacial lakes, a world-class zoo, and a baseball field in a cornfield. Here's the local's map, sorted by how far you'll actually drive. Waukee sits on the far west edge of the metro, so the southwestern and western trips (Winterset, Omaha) are a touch closer for us, while the eastern ones (the Amana Colonies, Iowa City, Dubuque) add a little time versus leaving from the east side. Searching "day trips near me" from Waukee or Des Moines? This is that list. All drive times below are approximate, door-to-door from the Waukee and west-metro area.
One of Waukee's closest getaways, straight down the west side. The covered bridges of Madison County (yes, those bridges), John Wayne's birthplace & museum, a classic town square, and Clark Tower overlooking the river valley. Pair it with a slice of pie.
Ride the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad through the Des Moines River valley, then hike the canyons and sandstone bluffs at Ledges State Park - one of Iowa's prettiest. Don't miss the Kate Shelley High Bridge.
A storybook Dutch town on the metro's far southeast side, so budget about an hour from Waukee: a working windmill (Iowa's tallest), the Vermeer Mill & historical village, and bakeries like Jaarsma and Vander Ploeg - get a Dutch letter pastry. The famous Tulip Time festival takes over each May.
Seven historic German villages founded in 1855 - family-style restaurants, the Millstream Brewing Co. and local wineries, woolen and furniture craftsmen, and the Amana Heritage Museum. It's an eastern run, so add a bit of time from Waukee. Come hungry.
A Big Ten college town and UNESCO City of Literature: the pedestrian Ped Mall, indie bookstores and coffee, the University of Iowa campus and art museum, and a deep food & bar scene. Hawkeye game days are an event. Figure a couple hours-plus east on I-80.
The Waukee Brief is a free weekly email on what's happening close to home. We do the local rounding-up so you can plan the fun stuff.
The easiest big-city weekend from here, and being on the west side, Waukee has a slight head start straight down I-80. Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is regularly ranked among the best zoos in the world; add the cobblestoned Old Market district, the Durham Museum, and the College World Series each June.
World-famous barbecue, the Country Club Plaza, the free Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the National WWI Museum, and pro sports across the board (Chiefs, Royals, Sporting KC).
Iowa's oldest city, perched on the Mississippi bluffs: the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, the Fenelon Place Elevator (billed as the world's steepest, shortest scenic railway), and riverboat views from the bluffs. It's a northeast run clear across the state.
Tucked in Iowa's "Driftless" bluff country - paddle the Upper Iowa River, chase the Dunning's Spring waterfall, watch the famous Decorah eagle nest, dig into Norwegian heritage at Vesterheim, and toast at Toppling Goliath, one of the highest-rated breweries in the world.
The actual movie site: play catch in the outfield, run the bases, and soak in the cornfield nostalgia. A new MLB-grade ballpark next door hosts games and events in season. Pure Iowa.
A beautifully preserved 1800s river town just past Dubuque: a walkable Main Street of shops and restaurants, Ulysses S. Grant's home, ghost tours, and rolling-hill wineries. Easy to combine with Dubuque into one trip.
Iowa's lake country in the northwest corner: clear glacial lakes for boating and swimming, and Arnold's Park - a classic lakeside amusement park with one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in America. The state's signature summer-resort getaway.
When you want a full big city: the Mall of America, the Twin Cities' chain of lakes and parks, the Guthrie Theater and world-class museums, pro teams in every league, and a top-tier food scene.
Closer to home, see our things-to-do-in-Waukee guide and the outdoors guide for the metro's trails, parks, and ballfields.
Close-to-home favorites include Winterset and the covered bridges of Madison County (one of Waukee's closest, about 35 minutes), Ledges State Park and the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad (both under an hour), and Pella's Tulip Time - all easy day trips from Waukee.
Popular overnights include Omaha (the Henry Doorly Zoo, a straight shot west on I-80), the Iowa Great Lakes and Arnold's Park at Okoboji, Decorah (Toppling Goliath, Dunning's Spring, and the Upper Iowa River), Dubuque (the Fenelon Place Elevator), and Kansas City.
Ledges State Park near Boone is one of the closest and most popular, roughly under an hour from Waukee, with wooded trails, sandstone bluffs, and a creek.
From Waukee's west side, the closest worthwhile day trips are Winterset and the covered bridges of Madison County (about 35 minutes), Boone and Ledges State Park (about 45 minutes), Pella (about an hour), and the Amana Colonies (under two hours). All are easy there-and-back days.
For families, the standouts are the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad and Ledges State Park near Boone, Pella's windmill and bakeries, and, for a slightly longer day, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo (about two hours from Waukee), regularly ranked among the best zoos in the world.