Overview
Muscatine is a city sitting alongside the Mississippi River in Eastern Iowa.
2 sights · 4 things to do · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Muscatine
Muscatine Art Center
Pieces by artists such as Grant Wood (born in Anamosa, IA, about one hour from Muscatine), Matisse, Degas and Renoir. Several number of pieces revolve around the Mississippi River and cities along its banks.
Sino-US Friendship House
The small museum sits in a house where China's now-President Xi Jinping stayed during his visit to Iowa in 1985, when he was a county-level official leading an agricultural delegation around the state.
Muscatine Aquatic Center
Water park features 5 slides.
Muscatine Municipal Golf Course
Muscatine Symphony Orchestra
Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge
Trails and observation decks are open to the public, as well as fishing and hunting. Various species of wildlife use the area, some which are threatened or endangered. The area is maintained by the U.S. National Fish and…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 15°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Davenport)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MLI Quad City International Airport, Moline — 28 mi away. Directions
- BRL Southeast Iowa Regional Airport, Burlington — 44 mi away. Directions
- DSM Des Moines International Airport, Des Moines — 135 mi away (major hub). Directions
If coming from the northwest or north, take Interstate 80 to exit 271. Then take U.S. Highway 6 West/S.R. 38 South. Muscatine is about 15 miles (24 km) south of I-80. From the east or northeast, take I-280 around Davenport and exit at U.S. Highway 61 South (exit 6). If coming from the southeast, take I-280 around Moline and exit at S.R. Highway 92 West (exit 11A).
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Muscatine Art Center, Muscatine Aquatic Center
- Afternoon Muscatine Symphony Orchestra
Day 2
- Morning Sino-US Friendship House, Muscatine Municipal Golf Course
- Afternoon Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Place Muscatine Welcome Center
The Muscatine History & Industry Center houses the Welcome Center.
Get in
By car
If coming from the northwest or north, take Interstate 80 to exit 271. Then take U.S. Highway 6 West/S.R. 38 South. Muscatine is about 15 miles (24 km) south of I-80. From the east or northeast, take I-280 around Davenport and exit at U.S. Highway 61 South (exit 6). If coming from the southeast, take I-280 around Moline and exit at S.R. Highway 92 West (exit 11A).
Hailing from the south and on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River, take U.S. Highway 61 North/S.R. 92 East. If on the Illinois side of the river but inconvenient to get on I-74 North, S.R. 92 West will take you directly downtown after crossing over the river.
By plane
By bus
By train
Place Amtrak
Muscatine is not along the Amtrak route, but an Amtrak bus will take one from Davenport to link up with the train at Galesburg, IL.
Get around
See
Do
Fishing and boating on the Mississippi River, or sit alongside the river and take in a sunset in downtown's Riverside Park.
Do Muscatine Municipal Golf Course
Do Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge (formerly Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge)
Trails and observation decks are open to the public, as well as fishing and hunting. Various species of wildlife use the area, some which are threatened or endangered. The area is maintained by the U.S. National Fish and Wildlife Service.
Sleep
Nearby
Rock Island
City / town · 18 listings · 25 mi away
Davenport
City / town · 102 listings · 25 mi away
Moline
City / town · 21 listings · 29 mi away
Iowa City
City / town · 52 listings · 29 mi away
Bettendorf
City / town · 16 listings · 30 mi away
Kalona
City / town · 5 listings · 34 mi away
Le Claire
City / town · 30 listings · 38 mi away
Mount Vernon
City / town · 4 listings · 39 mi away
My experience
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