← Iowa guide / Arts & culture
Des Moines & Iowa State Fair · A place with more to it than a quick stop.
Start exploringWhy it is worth the stop
An Iowa summer tradition with a city around it. Outside fair dates, use Des Moines arts, markets or the Capitol for a city day.
Explore the official visitor information ↗A mini storyboard
Choose what sounds like you and check details before you set out.
Check the official fair dates and events before centering a trip on the fairgrounds.
Outside fair dates, use Des Moines arts, markets or the Capitol for a city day.
Opening hours, tours, admission and access can change. Use the official link for the current details.
Explore by instinct
Tap a marker, filter the kind of day, or reveal the land beneath the route.
Outline: U.S. Census Bureau. Optional shaded relief: USGS The National Map. Pins mark starting areas, not a driving route.
Arts & culture
An Iowa summer tradition with a city around it.
Explore this stop →Keep your options open
Find a market, family-style Amana meal, or a river-town restaurant that connects your drive to local farms.
See all 6 Iowa stories →Make it your trip
