Overview
Southeast Iowa is in United States of America.
1 things to do
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Southeast Iowa
Keokuk Family Geode Festival
A geode hunting event for rock hounds of all ages. You'll meet up in town and then drive to pre-designated sites to search for geodes. Wear old boots or shoes that can tramp through fields, mud, and streams. Bring a buck…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 12°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Iowa City)
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.
- BRL Southeast Iowa Regional Airport, Burlington — 41 mi away. Directions
- CID The Eastern Iowa Airport, Cedar Rapids — 63 mi away. Directions
- DSM Des Moines International Airport, Des Moines — 100 mi away (major hub). Directions
Amtrak's passenger train the Southwest Chief stops in Fort Madison on its runs between Chicago and other stops in Illinois on one side and Missouri, Kansas, and other states on the other as it makes its way to Los Angeles.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Sample 3-day trip
- Day 1: Fairfield — The Art Walk, Jefferson County Fair.
- Day 2: Burlington — Snake Alley, Des Moines County Historical Society, Burlington Bees.
- Day 3: Fort Madison — Old Fort Madison.
Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.
Places in Southeast Iowa
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
This small region includes the counties of Louisa, Des Moines (which is not the same as the city Des Moines in Central Iowa), Lee, Henry, Van Buren, and Jefferson. All together, about 125,000 people live in this region.
Cities
- Burlington
- Fairfield
- Fort Madison
Get in
Amtrak's passenger train the Southwest Chief stops in Fort Madison on its runs between Chicago and other stops in Illinois on one side and Missouri, Kansas, and other states on the other as it makes its way to Los Angeles.
Do
Do Keokuk Family Geode Festival
A geode hunting event for rock hounds of all ages. You'll meet up in town and then drive to pre-designated sites to search for geodes. Wear old boots or shoes that can tramp through fields, mud, and streams. Bring a bucket, simple gardening tools, food, water, and whatever you need to be comfortable while hiking and digging for a few hours at a time. Pre-registration opens a few months before the event.
Stay safe
Especially during the spring and early summer months, travelers should be aware of tornadoes and flood risks.
Nearby
Ottumwa
City / town · 8 listings · 28 mi away
Kalona
City / town · 5 listings · 36 mi away
Nauvoo
City / town · 11 listings · 40 mi away
Albia
City / town · 5 listings · 49 mi away
Iowa City
City / town · 52 listings · 49 mi away
Muscatine
City / town · 17 listings · 52 mi away
Centerville
City / town · 6 listings · 55 mi away
Amana Colonies
City / town · 26 listings · 56 mi away
My experience
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