Iowa, United States
Iowa Budget & Money-Saving Guide: See more of Iowa. Spend less.
Know what a day really costs before you book, and where your money is worth spending — so you can relax instead of checking your banking app.
- What a day really costs, laid out before you book
- 21 free and cheap things to do: Des Moines Art Center · State Historical Museum of Iowa · Pappajohn Sculpture Park
- Money-saving tips for getting around, sleeping and eating
$19
Instant PDF download · Works offline · 30-day money-back guarantee
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Built from the research behind opentravelguide.com · Updated October 2026
A look inside
Named in the Iowa budget guide
Cover Comprehensive Budget Breakdown Free & Cheap Activities
A sample of what the guide names, taken word for word from the guide.
Free & cheap picks covered
- Des Moines Art Center
- Iowa State Capitol free guided tour
- State Historical Museum of Iowa
- Pappajohn Sculpture Park
- Principal Riverwalk
- Field of Dreams Movie Site
- Maquoketa Caves State Park free day use
- Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
- +13 more
Money-saving topics
- Backbone State Park campground
- Maquoketa Caves State Park campground
- Palisades-Kepler State Park campground
Day by day
Your days in Iowa
- Day 1Des Moines: free landmarks and Iowa-style tacos
- Day 2Living history, pork tenderloin and barbecue
- Day 3Presidential history and the Amana Colonies
How it works
- 1Buy
- 2Download instantly
- 3Use it offline or print it
Not right for your trip? Full refund within 30 days — no reason needed. Refund policy
Compare
All Iowa guides
Each guide covers a different part of the trip. Prices are what you pay today.
| Guide | Best for | Inside | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-Day Itinerary | A full week, planned | 7 days planned · 26 scheduled stops | $34 |
| 3-Day Weekend Itinerary | A long weekend | 3 days planned · 13 scheduled stops | $24 |
| Family Travel Guide | Travelling with kids | 20 family attractions · 3 family stays | $29 |
| Food & Restaurant Guide | Eating well | 7 local dishes · 16 places to eat | $24 |
| Budget & Money-Saving Guide Viewing | Spending less | 21 free & cheap picks | $19 |
| Complete Bundle | Everything, for less | All 5 guides | $79saves $51 |
What's inside
Everything in this guide
See everything in this guide
Everything in this edition, last updated October 2026.
Also in the guide
Welcome to Budget Travel in Iowa
Best Time for Value
Comprehensive Budget Breakdown
Money-Saving Strategies
Top Money-Saving Tips · Transportation Savings · Budget Accommodation · Best Budget Neighborhoods
Free & Cheap Activities
Completely Free Activities · Cheap Eats
Where to Splurge vs Save
3-Day Budget Trip: Des Moines and Eastern Iowa
Free Self-Guided Walking Tours
Des Moines Capitol to Court Avenue Historic Walk · Court Avenue and East Village Food Walk · Western Gateway Sculpture and Library Walk
Managing Your Money
Questions
Before you buy
What exactly do I get?
A PDF. It's ready to download the moment payment completes, and we email you the link too.
Why pay when the website is free?
It's built from the same research as the free Iowa pages. The website is for browsing by topic; this guide does the planning for you, with everything in order in one document you can use offline on the trip.
Browse the free Iowa pagesCan I use it on my phone without a connection?
Yes. Once downloaded, the PDF opens in any PDF reader on a phone, tablet or computer with no connection needed, and it prints cleanly if you prefer paper.
How current is it?
This edition was last updated in October 2026. Opening hours, prices and transport schedules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you rely on it.
What if it is not what I needed?
Every guide is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Request a refund within 30 days of purchase.
Read the refund policyIs this guide included in the bundle?
Yes. The Iowa Complete Bundle contains this guide and the other four, as the same PDFs sold individually.
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