Take a Trip: Highway 163

In the final episode of season 3 of Road Trip Iowa, we take take in the aerial artistry, rich landscapes, and cultural confections along Highway 163.

Want to take this journey with us on your next road trip? Use Travel Iowa's itinerary tool to send yourself a fantastic route along this byway to experience most of our episode in person (please note that the itinerary tool doesn't always have every stop featured in our show so you may need to add a couple of stops along the way if you want the full experience).

Antique airplanes lined up on a grassy field.
Highway 163

Antique Airfield

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Aviators sculpt the skies in classic airplanes to honor the history of antique aviation.
An aerial view of a three bridges over a river in a small Iowa town.
Highway 163

City of Bridges

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Shaped by both nature and industry, Ottumwa is a great place for an adventure.
Two race cars zoom around a dirt track. The car on the left (in the lead), is number 7. The car on the right (behind car 7) is number 34.
Highway 163

Southern Iowa Speedway

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The true half-mile dirt oval racetrack at the Southern Iowa Speedway packs in a lot of fun!
The curvy and rocky cliffs of Red Rock Lake's shoreline. A long vehicle bridge is seen in in the distance. Lush green trees adorn the top of the rocky cliffs.
Highway 163

Lake Red Rock

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Lake Red Rock helps prevent flooding, and also promotes great outdoor recreation.
Brooke Kohlsdorf (host of Road Trip Iowa), wears some traditional Dutch clothes and bakes some Dutch letters with two women and a man who is in the background.
Highway 163

Pella Tulip Time

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Tulip Time in Pella is a BEAUTIFUL stop for Highway 163 travellers!
High above the treetops, a man stands at the top of a caged, metal observation tower and shoots video out towards nearby Red Rock Lake.
Highway 163

Cordova Observation Tower

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Climb 170 steps to the top of the tallest observation tower on public land in the U.S.
A small herd of bison span from one side to the other of a gravel road. The road rises with the hillside into the distance. Green grass and trees on each side of the gravel road.
Highway 163

Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge

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Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge offers rolling hills of Iowa history.
Five people/customers of various ages sit on stools at a restaurant counter. A waitress assists the customers with counterservice.
Highway 163

Goldie's Ice Cream Shoppe

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Prairie City is host to an upbeat eatery serving up traditional, small town delights.