15 of the Best Places to Visit in Burlington Iowa
Updated places to visit just posted (camping location, restaurants, shopping, coffee shop)
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Updated places to visit just posted (camping location, restaurants, shopping, coffee shop) 〰️
Updated July 2024
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See Below to Get Your FREE Burlington, Iowa Travel Guide
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See Below to Get Your FREE Burlington, Iowa Travel Guide 〰️
Visiting Burlington, Iowa
My family and I had lived in a small town in southeast Iowa all of our lives. Growing up we would often say it was such a boring place to live with not much to do. That isn’t accurate and there are a lot of great places to visit in Iowa.
We moved to Florida to get away from the snow and dreaded long winters but since our family still lives in Iowa, we knew we would visit the area often. After being away for a while, you do tend to appreciate some of the beauty of the area you once called home. There is a nostalgia of remembering the past and the landscape that made you who you are today. It makes you appreciate family and all that your small town had to offer.
Burlington Iowa offers the charm of a small city. I will uncover some of the hidden gems and rich landscape of this rural beauty. This small town will allure you into its culture, history and welcoming atmosphere.
I made this list of the 15 things I love about Burlington, Iowa or the surrounding area. As you travel through the Midwest, I encourage you to stop at these locations on your next trip through Southeast Iowa. Learn about places to:
Explore outside
Eat
Shop
Camp
Places to visit in Burlington
1. Snake Alley
Downtown Burlington has a nostalgia feel of old stone buildings mixed with newer trendy restaurants making way for visitors new and old. There are several unique places to visit from shopping, dining, and crafts. The one-of-a-kind restaurants mixed with many old churches makes this a very picturesque part of Burlington.
One of those places you can visit that is so unique is Snake Alley, the crookedest street in the world. This crooked street was constructed in 1894 and made of limestone and blue clay bricks. This road was dubbed as the #1 Odd Spots with Ripley’s Believe It or Not! It definitely is a unique presentation of streets with character that connects the upper bluff roads with the lower city streets. You can drive down (one-way) this crooked street or park on the side streets and walk up and down or have a small picnic on the law sprawling the alley. In the fall the trees surrounding the road present beautiful colors of red, yellow and orange making this a romantic walk for anyone.
Address: 600 Washington Street, Burlington (only a 2-minute drive to Napoli Pizza from this location)
Cost: FREE
2. Great River Bridge
While in Downtown Burlington you can view or drive on the Great River Bridge that connects Iowa to Illinois on Highway 34 crossing over the expansive Mississippi River. You can view the bridge from downtown Burlington and take some great pictures of this iconic bridge. This bridge was built in 1993 to replace the old MacArthur bridge and the year it was built we were able to walk across it in large numbers. The bridge also lights up at night to bring even more beauty to the area. You can walk here from the Burlington mural listed below. You can launch your boat, see a show at the Memorial Auditorium, have a picnic on the grassy lawn or walk through the shops located near the river. There is so much to do in Downtown Burlington and many great, locally owned, restaurants that make this area worth checking out.
Address: GPS 40.81176, -91.09546
Cost to cross the bridge: Free
3. Burlington wall mural
While in Downtown Burlington don’t forget to check out their new wall mural that was painted in 2022. This new mural gives a brief pictorial description of landmarks in the area. You can see Snake Alley in the mural as well. Don’t forget to hashtag this picture on your social media. #BurlingtonDoesArt
This is located right next to The Drake restaurant. Check out the details below.
Address: 400 block of North Main Street, Burlington
Cost: FREE
4. Starr’s Cave Park and Preserve
Starr’s Cave offers a quiet place to stroll through trails as you listen to the water babbling in Flint Creek along the path. There are 184 acres to explore with multiple hiking trails, caves to explore (Devil’s Kitchen and Crinoid Cavern), and a creek to enjoy. You can walk through the creek when the water level is low, or you can enjoy the view from the trails or bridge.
Check out more details on Starr’s Cave Park summer camps they offer.
In the past visitors were allowed to hike in and eventually belly crawl through a cave system until you entered a large open space knows as Starr’s Cave, hence the name. Bats also inhabited this space and due to the disease White-Nose Syndrome, this cave hike has been closed indefinitely to protect the bats. You can still look into the entrance of the cave after walking on the large bridge that crosses over the creek. The trails throughout this park are easy to follow and if you look you will find small fossils in some of the rocks which are always fun to discover throughout this area.
There is a small, covered pavilion with picnic tables and a grill to enjoy before or after your hike. On the property you will also find Starr’s Cave Nature Center named after William Starr who owned the Nature Center that used to be a barn and still resembles that today. Inside the Nature Center you will find staff willing to offer support and answer any questions you might have about the area. There is also an interactive hands-on area for the kids on the second floor.
Summer camps are available each year and provide an amazing opportunity for kids to gets hands on experience exploring the land, making crafts and learning about the ecology that makes this park great. Check out their Facebook page for details: Starr’s Cave Nature Center or find them on Instagram: @starrscavenaturecenter. Camps are available for age 3 to 13. Camps are during the day and in the evening. Camps run about 4-5 days and the average cost is $50-60 per kid. My kids did these summer camps for years and loved them!
Address: 11627 Starr’s Cave Road, Burlington
Park Hours: 6am to 10:30pm
Nature Center Hours: April 1 to September 30 from Noon to 4pm on Saturday and Sundays only. October 1 to March 31 from 7am to 2pm Monday to Friday. To visit outside of those hours, call 319-753-5808 for availability. Restroom available inside when they are open.
Cost: FREE
Pets allowed but must be on a leash
No camping available
Places to eat that are locally owned
5. Napoli Pizza
My absolute favorite place I must visit every time we are in Downtown Burlington is Napoli Pizza and Restaurant. This is a locally owned restaurant that opened in 1972 by a Greek family who emigrated to the US in 1967 and has continued to create wonderful food for many years. The owner Mike (son of original owner Nichoulas Alexandropoulos and his wife Demetra) is amazingly warm, inviting and friendly. They have a variety of foods on their menu to choose from. Honestly, I have only had their sausage pizza and breaded cauliflower. Their sausage pizza is the BEST. The crust is not like your typical pizza crust, it is buttery and just plain good! My family has tried many of their other menu items from the spaghetti to gyros, or hamburgers and always have good things to say about the food no matter what they order. Napoli does close for a month each summer so they can travel back to their home country so check their website for details. The restaurant isn’t much to look at from the outside or inside, but it is worth the visit!! Many loyal customers keep coming back to Napoli for the friendly atmosphere and good food!
Address: 115 North 3rd Street, Burlington
Hours: Closed on Sunday & Mondays. Open Tuesday to Thursday 11 am to 8:30 pm and Friday & Saturday open 11 am to 9:30 pm.
Menu & Pricing: See below pic
Language’s spoken: English and Greek
Facebook @napolipizzaburlington
6. The Som
Growing up I knew this restaurant as a bar. Today it is a great restaurant that also includes a bar. It is not what you would think of when you hear bar. The Som is a family friendly place to eat. The service here is wonderful and the food was so so good. We had the Birria tacos, short rib Bao buns (OMG, so good), deep fried deviled eggs, and Hinterland curds. All I can say is YUM!!! Everything we ordered was so good. Definitely make a stop at The Som for lunch or dinner.
Address: 863 Jefferson Street, Burlington
Hours: Monday to Thursday 11am to 11pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 12am, Sunday 11am to 10pm
Menu: see photos
7. The Drake on the Riverfront
While in the area check out The Drake on the Riverfront restaurant. (located next to the Burlington mural) Here you will find good food and outdoor seating with a spectacular view of the Mississippi River. This building was originally known as Drake Hardware in 1899 until 1980 when they closed the doors. It sat empty for a while until 1983 when it was purchased by its current owners. Much of the structure inside was taken from surrounding area businesses and put inside The Drake for add more history and rich character.
Address: 106 Washington St, Burlington
Hours: Monday to Thursday 11am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 10pm closed Sunday’s
8. Good
Don’t hesitate to try something new at Good. This restaurant and lounge were created by a young vibrant couple who wanted to bring good food and a fun atmosphere to the community. They bought a 170-year-old stone house and turned it into a restaurant. To add to the fun, this restaurant includes outdoor seating, a library and game room, and they also have a vegan and vegetarian menu. Check them out, you won’t be disappointed.
Address: 423 North 3rd Street, Burlington
Hours: Sunday 9am to 3pm, Wednesday to Saturday 5pm to 10pm, Closed Monday and Tuesday
Instagram @goodburlington
9. Mazzio’s Italian Eatery
This is one of two chain restaurants you will find on this page, but this restaurant is centrally located only in the Midwest. We go to this restaurant every time we are in Burlington. This is a family friendly restaurant and has really good pizza and salad bar. Their staff is super friendly and wants to make sure your experience is good. Check out their website for online coupons. They also have pasta, Stromboli, salads, wings and desserts.
Address: 616 S Roosevelt Ave, Burlington
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11am to 9pm, Friday 11am to 11pm, Saturday 11am to 10pm
10. Dunn Brothers Coffee
I love to try new refreshers if I find a cute coffee shop. This is another smaller chain restaurant that is centrally located in the US. I was able to find a nice refresher that I did enjoy while there. What I love about this coffee shop is all of the different flavors of coffee that they sell that were from around the world. You will see in the pictures that their coffee is sourced from all over the world, and they will show you where each coffee is from. They offer their coffee beans for sale, and they will ground them for you.
Address: 1105 Lawrence Drive, Burlington
Hours: Monday to Saturday 5:30am to 7pm, Sunday 6:30am to 7pm
Where to shop locally
11. Hopefully Yours thrift store
Not everyone is into thrift stores but if you are this thrift store is a great one to visit as it supports a local organization that provides housing and job opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Hopefully Yours offers support for those in the community to provide learning skills needed for employment. They have clothing, housewares, furniture, games, books, antiques and more. I always find something fun in this thrift store.
Address: 617 Jefferson Street, Burlington
Hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm, Closed Sunday
12. Original Cyns & C Sky Boutique
These are two locally owned stores that sell name brand clothing items and accessories. Original Cyns has been open since 2003 and continues to draw in young women wanting a trendier look of fashion. They have bath and body items, purses and some baby items. They provide a west coast style in the Midwest. You can find updates on their Facebook: Original Cyns or Instagram @ocyns
Original Cyns address: 520 Jefferson Street, Burlington
C Sky Boutique address: 417 Jefferson Street, Burlington
Both stores open at 10am (12pm on Sunday). Closing times vary between 4pm to 7pm.
13. Nature’s Corner
This is for all those all-natural supplements and vitamins type of people. Nature’s Corner is your store! I love to find natural supplements that can take care of an ailment. I don’t need to go to the store to buy a cough syrup or something for a headache that is full of so many other additives, I prefer to find something all natural. This store has what you need. They are knowledgeable about their items and are there to help. This is a family business that has been open since 1979. Find them on Facebook: Nature’s Corner
Address: 423 Jefferson Street, Burlington
Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm. Closed Sunday
Parks to visit and camp
14. Geode State Park
When I was young my mom would take me to Geode State Park often to go hiking or to relax on the beach and swim in the lake. This has provided me with some really good memories of those moments with my mom. Geode is named after the state rock, Geode. This park consists of 150 acres of land and a large lake to explore that allows for boating/kayaking and fishing. You can also explore the park by hiking around the lake, having a picnic or camping. This park is about 20 minutes from Downtown Burlington.
While visiting Geode as a kid we would swim in the water, paddle boat (currently no paddle boats to rent but this is in their future plans to restore), go hiking, or have a picnic. So, when we were in Iowa this last time, we had to have another picnic with our family. We enjoy taking the time to gather as a family and eat grilled hotdogs while the kids enjoy playing on the playground near the lake. Grills and picnic tables are available throughout the park for your picnic needs. In the fall this area if full of color with the changing of the leaves giving you more opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this area.
Stop by this park for your next picnic or take a relaxing walk among Iowa’s oldest trees, Sycamore’s, and around the picturesque lake. I love to use my RTIC cooler to keep our food cold while picnicking. We have used this cooler a lot and it always keeps food cold. (unless you are in the desert with 100-degree weather, lol)
Address: 3333 Racine Ave, Danville
Hours: 4 am to 10:30 pm daily
Cost: FREE to visit (camping fees do apply)
Camping: electric and non-electric sites available, 2 shower buildings, vault toilets, park, dumpster, picnic table. Showers/water hookups closed in winter months (November to April). Cost: $12-$24 depending on season. Reserve online.
Pictures, below: 3 seasons (summer, winter, fall) + park map
Lake Geode park map below.
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15. Big Hollow Recreation Area
This park is known for camping, beach swimming, boating, kayaking, fishing and more. Pets are allowed if on a leash.
Campground: 48 campsites and 32 of those sites have full hookups. There is a modern bathhouse with hot showers, dump station, and water. Cabins are available for rent also. Some sites are reservable, and some first come, first served. Register for the campground HERE.
Witte Observatory Complex for stargazing by reservation only.
Address: 18853 152nd Ave, Sperry
Park hours: 6am to 10:30pm
Campground map below
YouTube video of the location
Recommended items if you are camping
Bug Soother bug spray. This is an all-natural bug spray made in Iowa.
4-person tent, this is the tent we use, and it has worked great
Other fun things to do throughout Iowa
Iowa State Fair
Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville
Covered Bridges of Madison County
Maquoketa Caves State Park
American Gothic House in Eldon
Adventureland Park, amusement park in Altoona
Iowa Hawkeyes football or basketball game
Des Moines Iowa Cubs game
Iowa isn’t typically a place people have on their bucket list but if you do your research, you can find a lot of great history in the area and find some unique places to visit and eat. Burlington is rich in history and allows locals to create and find their own passion through small business ownership. There are several opportunities to explore the land within the many parks located in or around Burlington. If you have any questions about what there is to do in Burlington, please leave me a comment below.
Enjoy your next journey,
Meet the author: Jennifer
I’m just a girl who loves to travel. My favorite travels have been traveling across the US in a campervan, visiting all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, marking National Parks off my list, & many smaller trips. I love to share my adventures and tips to inspire more travel. If you can dream it, you can do it! Want the whole story?
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