Southeast Iowa Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Map of Southeast Iowa

• 40.808056-91.1158331 Burlington
• 41.007222-91.9658332 Fairfield
• 40.628611-91.3388893 Fort Madison

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.

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.

• 40.4213-91.41241 Keokuk Family Geode Festival, Central meeting point: 3476 Main St, Keokuk. Annual event in late September. 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. $25 adults, $5 kids to participate, plus $25 per bucket of geodes collected. (updated Jun 2025)

Especially during the spring and early summer months, travelers should be aware of tornadoes and flood risks.