Sioux City, 165 mi/265 km northwest of Des Moines, sits at the convergence of the Big Sioux and Missouri rivers. An important center for the transportation and processing of grain and livestock, it's also home to Morningside College and Briar Cliff College.
Among the attractions are the Sioux City Public Museum, local-history displays in an 1890 mansion; the Sergeant Floyd, a former river-inspection ship that is now a museum highlighting transportation on the Missouri River; and the Sioux City Art Center with a children's gallery and a permanent collection that contains many works by Midwestern artists.
Other possible stops in Sioux City include the Mid-America Museum of Aviation and Transportation, located near the Sioux City airport, which has some interesting displays on the history of flight. The architecture of the Woodbury County Courthouse is also worth a look, as is the Sergeant Floyd Monument, which marks the burial place of the only fatality among the crew of the famed Lewis and Clark expedition.
Sioux City is the starting point for the Loess Hills Scenic Byway. If you take this road, stop by the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center first to learn about the loess formations that line this route. This unusual geological formation of gently rolling hills formed by windblown silt is home to a number of rare plant species.
To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.