What do you hope for when you stop at a rest stop along the interstate? For me, it's usually a…read moreclean and safe restroom, a place to refill the water bottles, and, sometimes, a picnic area to take a needed break from the many hours of driving. That's what I was hoping for when we stopped at the Tiffin Rest Area on I-80 eastbound through Iowa, just before exit 237. (Sept, 2024). What I wasn't expecting though was a literary experience. The first hint is the giant fountain pen nib with the words "the beautiful land" in front of the building, and also visible from the Highway. Then, there are sidewalk lights that are shaped like pencils with erasers. But, my favorite was the picnic area, where picnic tables were protected by individual walls/screens with excerpts from literature by Iowan writers. We needed to get back on the road but I found myself wondering from picnic table to picnic table to read all of the quotes! Oh, and yes, the restroom building was well-maintained, clean, and felt safe. Access on/off the interstate was easy, and parking was plentiful. Well done Iowa!

Very clean and wondetfully crafted. The theme was writers and writing and it is just a nice place…read moreto stop and take a break on long journeys.

I would give this place a five star review, but if you're walking your dog in the designated pet…read morearea, watch out for 2-3 foot deep water. Because my dog is soaked and my feet as well! Grass is about 8 inches long in the "mowed areas" so make sure you have your rain boots on when walking any where but the cement!

Nice clean rest stop great place to walk the dog and even a park for the kids.free Wi-Fi and lots…read moreof vending machines you going to place to have a picnic.

This is one of the cleanest rest stops I've ever been to! We're on the road a lot because we have…read morefamily and friends that live all over the country so finding nice rest stops along the way are our little wins. The bathroom is so well kept and huge. There's also a bunch of places to hangout outside under large trees if you want the shade. From covered picnic tables to places specially for your pets, this rest stop has a little bit of everything for everyone. There was someone even in a hammock just chillin' between two trees, perfectly unbothered. There was plenty of parking both for cars and trucks. There were also a ton of maps both state and local as well as various guides for food, attractions, and entertainment. We'll definitely be keeping this location in mind the next time we're heading to Iowa or on the same route.

This is one of a new generation Iowa rest area. This Westbound rest area was Completed in January…read more2001 on I-80 at mile post 240. With the home of the ACT organization located in Johnson County, and with Iowa students scoring among the highest in the country on the most common entrance exams to college. Education theme was a perfect fit for this rest area. They have larger picnic shelters that have features similar to an old school house. As you can see the foundation is building blocks with pictures on them. The 2nd roof looks like it could house the school bell. Stacks of books with history of trucking, Iowa Artists, and others look like pillars that support the front of the rest area. You can see they have a masonry leage that goes around the building to look like one long book shelve, with books sitting on it. With there bindings showing classic literary works, and other great books. Every where you look you have planters and lighting features that look like oversize children's building blocks. Inside there is also some art work inside that you can view. Another important story is the Amana Colonies that settled in this area. They had a unique brotherhood was founded in Germany. Oppressive government at the time forced them to seek a new home in this great land of America. Around 1,500 people lived in 7 villages and owning 25,000 acres in Iowa. They have a great story to tell but will save that for another video. They had a huge impact on Iowa, and we all could learn a few things. It might be the smartest county in Iowa since it has the University of Iowa in it. It also held the first territorial capitol of the state located in Iowa City on the grounds of the University. This rest area has a little trail that has various grasses and wildflowers that are native to the prairies. 3 boy Scouts panned and planted this area so you could see what the early settlers seen when they crossed the prairies of Iowa. Some of the other rest area videos will talk about a little about some of the travelers, that has crossed by them over the years. Thank-you for all your comments and viewing the video. I have other videos I would like you to view.

This rest stop along I-80 certainly stands out from the pack. Why, you ask?…read more 1.) the lovely facade was covered with quilt square artwork 2.) they offer an abundance of covered picnic benches and a small walking trail space (ideal if you have your pup with you on the road) 3.) very clean indoor space and bathrooms accompanied by several maps on display in the foyer (you got me ) 4.) ample parking for both cars and semis/trailers

Very nice rest area with plenty of truck parking, clean restrooms and vending machines with free…read moreWIFI available. Plenty of open space behind the facility with a few picnic tables. Perfect spot to take a break from them long hours of driving.

Loved this rest stop!…read more Clean, safe, and convenient. The Pac-Man theme is pretty cool here and a nice surprise. I couldn't help but think someone's wish came true when they made marketing materials with a pac-man theme at an Iowa rest stop and it caught me off-guard (in the best way) when I had been driving for HOURS! I mean seriously, who looks at the walls of a rest stop? ME! I did when I saw pac-man! :) The restrooms were clean and everything was in good working order!

Limited truck parking spaces and it usually be full by the evening hours. This rest area is very…read morenice and very well maintained with clean restrooms and vending machines. There is an artwork display in front of the building as well as some historical landmark plaques and picnic tables.

Clean! Spacious! Excellent rest area! This is the place to…read morestop while on your drive!!!!

Okay, I was so excited to see, not just vending machines, but a dedicated vending machine room. I…read moregot Linda to pull up right in front, grabbed RWBY (you can say Ruby) and was ready to enjoy the vend. We had a bunch of loose change. Why "loose?" Anyway, I was able to purchase three bottles of water before moving on to the snack-based machine. I'm gluten free (wheat gives me a stomach ache) so I was really happy to see a Health Bar. Chocolate. Toffee. English? Awesome. I put in my $1.25 (see exhibit 1 photo below for price corroboration) and pressed 5-0. The display (as evidenced in photo 2) demanded an additional $.50. And I was out of change, loose or otherwise. A moment of non-rest. Until I realized I could hit the cancel button, get my change back and use my iPhone -- moments later, snack in hand. Could have been five stars Hartford Rest Area. Sorry, got to keep you honest.

The rest stops off of I-80 in Iowa are gorgeous. Many rest areas in other states are treated as…read moreutilitarian buildings, however this one elevates it to a work of art. The building is themed as a tribute to century farms in the area, with it being shaped as a clerestory window barn. However, it builds on the design with an open concept with natural lighting, which let the bright early autumn sunlight to filter through into the building. The roof is supported by glulam framing which adds to the natural, warm feeling that the space gives off. In the back, there's a room that has all glass walls, providing views of the forested area in the back with a trail. Around the building there are picnic tables and a pet relief area. The bathroom themselves were sparkling clean!

Clean clean clean! Modern facilities, look brand new. So well maintained! Excellent facility. Best…read moreroadside rest stop you will find.

Newly remodeled rest area with a more modern up to date facility. This rest area has clean…read morerestrooms and vending machines. Very limited truck parking spaces in the lot.

A rest stop is a place borne out of necessity- it's not safe driving when you're sleeping or need…read moreto use the restroom! This restroom is definitely one of the older ones; it's small and the toilet dividers are definitely on the shorter side. Otherwise, this is a pretty standard rest stop with picnic tables, a dog run, and vending machines. There's also a "Historic Grinnell" sign erected on the grounds which gives a description of the area. It begins, "Josiah Bushnell Grinnell, a native of Vermont, was the person to whom Horace Greeley gave his famous advice 'Go West, young man, go West.' " It's an interesting read, I highly recommend it!

Fairly nice and all around clean rest area with plenty of truck parking as well as for cars too…read more The restrooms are very clean and well maintained plus they have vending machines inside as well. Plenty of picnic tables outside all around the facility.

I really needed to pee and presto a rest area appears. At that point it could have been a…read moreport-a-potty and I would have been happy. This rest stop was surprisingly clean. There were vending machines and local info in the lobby. When traveling through Iowa, this would be a very good place to stop when you need to really pee.

This truck stop lives up to its billing of being the World's Largest Truck Stop. This place is huge…read moreand amazing. You can get gas here. Then inside is like a mini-mall. They have a food court with a Dairy Queen/Orange Julius, Wendy's, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut Express, all with seating. They also have a truck parts store, tourist souvenirs, convenience store items, clothes, and custom truck parts. The place was really clean, especially considering how many people go through there. You will find an actual tractor-trailer truck in the auto parts section of the truck stop. There are a lot of photo ops here at the truck stop, including the tractor-trailers and other vehicles inside, and murals and antique gas pumps outside. There is also a truck museum across the parking lot that is free to visit, but is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. I came here on a Monday, so of course it was closed. If you are coming into or leaving Iowa, this is a must-stop. This place is amazing and has just about everything. The staff there was very friendly too. I am glad I made the stop here, and I did not even need gas.

We were in need of a pit stop on a road trip and wanted to stop at our favorite place. Like an…read moreoasis in the desert the billboard signs began to appear and soon enough we had arrived! This place has everything. Gift shops, a sit down restaurant, a truckers museum, showers, a barber, chiropractor, dentist, and laundry. In addition, there are several fast food spots in the food court like Wendy's, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, Starbucks, plus rows of supermarket fares. This is a great place to take a load off and walk around to break up your road trip.