Ottumwa, Iowa travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Ottumwa is a city in South Central Iowa.

1 sights · 2 places to eat · 3 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Ottumwa

Wapello County Courthouse

Constructed in 1894 in the Romanesque Revival style. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 83°F; winter lows dip to about 10°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Grinnell)

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.
IRK Kirksville Regional Airport, Kirksville — 64 mi away. Directions
BRL Southeast Iowa Regional Airport, Burlington — 69 mi away. Directions
DSM Des Moines International Airport, Des Moines — 74 mi away (major hub). Directions

Ottumwa is at the junction of US Highways 34 and 63.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

Food for you

Cuisine (tap to filter)

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

Photos

Map

Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.

Get in

By car

Ottumwa is at the junction of US Highways 34 and 63.

By train

Amtrak serves Ottumwa via its California Zephyr route, running between Chicago to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Go Ottumwa railway station

📍 210 W Main St⚠ Last checked Oct 2019 — confirm before you go

Maps

By bus

Buses stop at the Amtrak station at 210 West Main St.

Trailways (+1 641-682-2009)
Greyhound Bus Lines (+1 641 682-2009)

By plane

Go Ottumwa Regional Airport (OTM)

General aviation airport. No scheduled passenger service.

⚠ Last checked Aug 2020 — confirm before you go

Maps

Get around

By bus

Ottumwa Transit runs Monday through Friday from 6:46AM until 6PM. Fare is $1.50.

See

See Wapello County Courthouse

Constructed in 1894 in the Romanesque Revival style. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

📍 101 N 4th Stat Court St

Maps

Eat

Eat Canteen Lunch in the Alley

American

The Canteen has been around since the 1930s and is known for their loose-meat sandwiches. The restaurant was the model for the Lanford Lunch Box on the 1990s sitcom Roseanne.

📍 112 E 2nd Stin the back alley parallel to 2nd and Main Sts, perpendicular to Court and Market Sts🕒 Mon-Wed 10AM-7PM, Thu-Sat 10AM-8PM☎ +1 641 682-5320

Video reviews: Instagram reels · TikTok · YouTube

Maps