Where the prairies meet the rivers, Iowa Portion of US Route 6 enters Iowa at Council Bluffs. This majestic stretch of highway begins its journey across Nebraska by traveling in unison with I‑29 and I‑80 before splitting off to explore rural Pottawattamie County. Along this path lies Oakland where it briefly overtakes US 59 before carrying on eastward until Lewis is reached. Step inside your car… embark on a marvelous adventure along one of America’s longest highways! Iowa Portion of US Route 6 takes a sharp left turn to Atlantic where it joins US 71 for an exciting journey leading up to I-80. It then rides roughshod with US 169 as far north as Adel, before looping back around Des Moines on Hickman Road and Merle Hay Road – making sure Urbandale is firmly secured in the north while Clive and Windsor Heights hold strong in the south. Finally, Iowa Highway 28 pitches up at 63rd Street just long enough for one last lap before they part ways over Douglas Avenue; leaving you craving more of this wild ride!
Skirting the Des Moines River, US 6 transitions from Douglas Avenue to Euclid Avenue. At northeastern Des Moines’ intersection of US 69 and I-235, it turns onto Hubbell Street for a brief stay in Altoona before meeting up with I‑80 again at its intersections with both US 65 and Moore Road. Continuing east beyond the metro area, this route continues along sidekick Interstate 80 until Newton where their paths diverge: one towards Grinnell on an adventure through Marengo then into picturesque Amana Colonies ending up at Coralville; while other joins forces with Iowa City’s University of Iowa campus near the banks of The Hawkeye State’s famous river -The Iowa River
From Iowa City to the banks of Mississippi, Iowa Portion of US Route 6 takes a scenic southeast journey. It zooms past West Liberty and Wilton before connecting with I-80 for an exciting northwards drive into Davenport. The adventure continues south as drivers hop onto Kimberly Road until veering east at Interstate 74, meandering over bridges towards Illinois’s welcoming embrace on the other side of mighty Father River!
Established as a National 501(c)(3) charitable organization, as a Public Charity the U.S. Route 6 Tourist Association works to promote economic development and cultural preservation for communities located along “The Grand Army of The Republic Highway.” Spanning 3,652 miles in total, this grand old highway is an integral part of Americana with many sites rich in history waiting to be discovered! Online at https://www.route6tour.com
