Car Hire Iowa

Guide

Endless stretches of corn fields are the first vision which enters people’s minds when thinking about the Midwestern state of Iowa, one of the safest in the United States. However, the cities dotting the soybean and corn fields are surprisingly cosmopolitan, especially the state capital, Des Moines. Drivers can easily reach centrally located Des Moines from all corners of the state with car hire in Iowa. Baseball fans will surely want to visit Dyersville’s famous Field of Dreams.

Hiring a Vehicle

Des Moines and its airport offer the most opportunities to pick up a vehicle. Thrifty, Advantage, and Hertz are just three of Des Moines International Airport’s nine car rental companies. However, visitors can also easily rent vehicles at the Eastern Iowa Airport, serving Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, and numerous other locations throughout the state, though they should compare car hire before they start their trip.

Transport Options

It takes just 10 minutes to drive from Des Moines to Iowa’s largest airport, but despite its name, Des Moines International Airport presently offers only domestic flights across the United States. The Amtrak California Zephyr route stops at five small southern Iowa towns during its daily journey between Emeryville, California and Chicago. MegaBus routes link Chicago to Des Moines and Iowa City. However, the automobile remains the most popular way to travel.

Car Hire Driving Tips in Iowa

Visitors will encounter miles of the cornfields for which lowa is so famous while driving a car rental in Iowa along Interstate 80, the main east to west route through the middle of the state. Interstate 35 runs north to south through Des Moines, Ames, and Mason City, while the smaller Interstate 380 travels between Waterloo and Cedar Rapids. Driving in Iowa is simple thanks to the state’s flat terrain, generally courteous motorists, and the easy to follow grid pattern of its cities.

Not to be Missed!

Iowa’s most fascinating sights are situated far off the somewhat dull beaten path of its Interstate highways. It costs nothing to walk along the Field of Dreams made famous by the Academy Award winning 1989 films, and visitors may even be able to watch one of the many softball or baseball games played on this Dyersville field. The interpreters at Urbandale’s Living History Farms demonstrate everyday lifestyles of Iowa residents from the 1700s to the 1900s at this unique outdoor museum.

Weather & Tourist Seasons

Visitors wishing to enjoy the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, America’s biggest state fair, should come in August. Late spring and summer are Iowa’s hottest seasons, and are also the prime tornado and thunderstorm months. Those wishing to avoid twisters, thunderstorms, and State Fair crowds while still experiencing fairly mild weather should come in early spring or autumn. Winter brings plenty of snow and average temperatures far below the freezing point. The average yearly temperature is around 10°C.