Iowa hwy 20 from I35 to I380

We have family that lives right off it about 5 miles on the western part of the state. I use it all the time going there summer and winter. If there is an active storm, 80 or 20 will be rough and will have lots of spun out cars.

US 20 from I380 to I35 is new and not wash board at all. weather is the only concern and it is four lane all the way. I80 is not all that good in my opinion.

Skiingsixpack has the route we took this summer. Beautiful, smooth road, and a good bit of it is four lane. I would go that way.

Gary. wrote:
I-90 doesn't go across Iowa!

I stand corrected, it sure dont, it is in Min i sota.
Sorry about that error.
Neil

SkiingSixPack wrote:
I have driven this route many times over the years, mostly down to Hawkeye football games. (LET'S GO HAWKS) :-)

Here is, IMO, the best route, with everything taken in to account, especially you driving your rig down there.

I-35 south to Hwy 18 east to Hwy 218
I-380 to I-80 and then east to the Quad Cities.

Good luck!!!

This is a good route. US20 is not the best. It has stretches that are a bad washboard. I use the I380/218 when going up to Forest City

I-90 doesn't go across Iowa!

C-Leigh Racing wrote:

After driving trucks for 20 years, harder it ...... snowed, better I liked it cause I was on the road by myself.
Neil

Neil, I could not have said it any better. Best thing I ever read around here about driving on the snow!!! The last twenty years of my driving career was spend in the lake effect snow belts south and east of Buffalo, NY hauling gasoline, diesel, and Jet A. Half my mileage was empty miles going back to the refinery. It was so much nicer, and more fun, when there was no one else on the snow and ice covered highways! And yes, like the Ice Road Truckers, I have plowed my own trail on snow drifted roads in the middle of the night with nothing but telephone poles to guide me!

I have driven this route many times over the years, mostly down to Hawkeye football games. (LET'S GO HAWKS) :-)

Here is, IMO, the best route, with everything taken in to account, especially you driving your rig down there.

I-35 south to Hwy 18 east to Hwy 218
I-380 to I-80 and then east to the Quad Cities.

Good luck!!!

Coming from the east going to Sioux Falls, I've ran up I-74 to I-80 over to I-380 to I-20 to 35 & on up to I-90 across, but I-90 being a wash board across Iowa, the last few times out we just went I-20 on over to Sioux City, then up 29 & was a good road over.

Cant say about the weather though, but that one storm just past & another behind it, you might have to drive like them Ice Road Trucker guys on TV.
Being Iowa though, folks from that part of the USA, know how to deal with the weather & keep the roads safe, but you take folks where I'm from in the east, let a snow flake fall & folks turn into idiots real quick.
After driving trucks for 20 years, harder it rained or snowed, better I liked it cause I was on the road by myself.
Neil

Hwy 20 is a major highway and is well maintained. It would only be a problem if there is an active weather event going on.